Buff-breasted Flycatcher (Latin Name), Mt Lemmon - Willow Canyon Rd, Pima County

This Buff-breasted Flycatcher was discovered by Barbara Bickel near her cabin on 10 May 2009 and it was photographed by Andrew Core on 04 June 2009.

Prior to 1920 Buff-breasted Flycatcher was found much further north than it is today, as far north as Prescott and Fort Apache.  Its range subsequently contracted and for many years it could only be found reliably in the Huachucas.  By 2000, the Arizona population was estimated to be only about 75 individuals.  However, it seems that recently this species has been expanding northward again, colonizing new areas, especially recent burns.  Small numbers are now found in the Chiricahuas, Santa Ritas and the Rincons where they seem to be increasingly common.  The discovery of this bird in the Santa Catalinas reflects this trend of expanding northward. 

04 June 2009, photo by Andrew Core

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