Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region: Species Accounts

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher [lateral view of fall migrant]: Photograph Credit: Rickey Shive; Pulliam Hollow, Metcalfe County, Kentucky; 25 August 2019. Image reviewed by David L. Roemer.

Abundance: Rare; 8 records in 4 Kentucky counties and 1 Tennessee county (Map of UCR Distribution); data from the Regional bird-monitoring efforts are too few to determine a trend in the population migrating through the Region (see also Regional Bird-Monitoring Plan).

Status: Transient during spring (2 records) and fall (6 records); photographs (see links below).

Regional High Count: 2 (8 September 2006; Adair County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton).

Information on Records: 

13 & 17 May 2000 (1) Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Busroe 2000c).

5 September 2003 (1) Mammoth Cave National Park, Barren County, Kentucky (Mark Monroe; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2004a).

12 September 2003 (1) Mt. Zion, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton [notes]; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2004a).

14 & 20 May 2006 (1—calling) Mt. Zion, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2006c).

8 September 2006 (2) Casey Creek, Adair County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo; Palmer-Ball and McNeeley 2007a).

5 September 2009 (1) Cathy Crockett Trail, Pulaski County, Kentucky (Roseanna M. Denton photo).

13 September 2013 (1) Leffle Webb Rd., Cumberland County, Tennessee (Edmund K. LeGrand [eBird]).

25 August 2019 (1) Pulliam hollow, Metcalfe Coounty, Kentucky (Rickey Shive (eBird; photo [see above]).

Regional Extreme Dates:

    Spring: 12 May 2000 (Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton)–20 May 2006 (Pulaski County, Kentucky; Roseanna M. Denton).

    Fall: 25 August 2019 (Metcalfe County, Kentucky; Rickey Shive)–13 September 2013 (Cumberland County, Tennessee; Edmund K. LeGrand).

Habitat: 

YardWatch Results 2003 and 2004: No registrations.

Remarks: Extremely difficult to identify during either migration season.  Song overlaps song of Least Flycatcher somewhat; one of this species' calls overlaps the song/call of Eastern Wood-Pewee.  Color of belly of this species sometimes isomorphic with color of belly of immature Acadian Flycatchers during fall.  Anyone seeking to i.d. this empid needs to take copious notes about its physical characteristics; photographs and sound recordings, especially, may be useful support of records.

Check-lists of Birds for the Counties of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of each county of the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed by clicking on the links below. For each county, there are two check-lists: one list that shows the species that have been observed and where possible documented in the county within the larger list for the entire Region; and one list that includes only the species observed in the county with annotations for the date and observers for at least one sighting (the ultimate goal of the latter list will be to include annotations for the very first known Regional observation of each species in that county; this goal is probably one that will take many years to complete, if completion is even a possibility). To see if the species discussed in this species account has been observed in a county, click below or click on the link for the Map of UCR Distribution near the top of the page.

Check-lists of Birds for Some Public Access Birding Sites of the UCR

Check-lists of the birds of some public access birding sites within the Upper Cumberland Region may be viewed via the links below. To see if the species dealt with in this species account has been observed within any of these sites, click on the appropriate link below. See the pages for each county within the Gazetteer for links to additional smaller public access birding sites with check-lists in progress.

Literature Cited