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Contact information
For information on Wisconsin's rare vertebrate animals, contact:
Rich Staffen
Conservation Biologist
608-266-4340
For information on Wisconsin's rare invertebrates, contact:
Jay Watson
Conservation Biologist
920-662-5161

Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)


Overview

Overview

Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus), a Special Concern species in Wisconsin, is found in many types of deciduous and mixed forests and less commonly in coniferous forest. This species historically bred throughout Wisconsin, however abundance is currently greater in the northern part of the state as large blocks of unfragmented deciduous forest cover have become uncommon in the south. The recommended avoidance period is May 15 - August 15.

State status

Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status - both state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where occurrences of this species meet NHI data standards and is not meant as a comprehensive map of all observations.

Note: Species recently added to the NHI Working List may temporarily have blank occurrence maps.


Documented locations of Empidonax minimus in the Natural Heritage Inventory Database as of July 2015.
Summary Information
State StatusSC/M
Federal Status in Wisconsinnone
State RankS3B
Global RankG5
Tracked by NHIY
WWAP SGCN

Species guidance


A guidance document is not available at this time. However, the bird calendar [PDF] contains dates for avoiding impacts to this and other rare Wisconsin birds when planning management activities.

Photos/Video

Photos


Least Flycatcher

Least Flycatcher

Photo © Brian Collins.

Least Flycatcher

Photo © Dennis Malueg.

Least Flycatcher

Photo © Dennis Malueg.

Least Flycatcher

Photo © Dennis Malueg.


Wildlife Action Plan

Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan graphic

Natural community (habitat) associations

The table below lists the natural communities that are associated with Least Flycatcher. Only natural communities for which Least Flycatcher is "high" (score=3) or "moderate" (score=2) associated are shown. See the key to association scores for complete definitions. Please see the Wildlife Action Plan to learn how this information was developed.

Ecological landscape associations

The table below lists the ecological landscape association scores for Least Flycatcher. The scores correspond to the map (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None). For more information, please see the Wildlife Action Plan.

This map shows the probability of Least Flycatcher occurring in each of Wisconsin's Ecological Landscapes.  Actual scores can be found in the table to the left.


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Landscape-Community combinations of highest ecological priority*

Ecological priorities are the combinations of natural communities and ecological landscapes that provide Wisconsin's best opportunities to conserve important habitats for a given Species of Greatest Conservation Need. The 10 highest scoring combinations are considered ecological priorities and are listed below. More than 10 combinations are listed if multiple combinations tied for 10th place. For more information, please see the Wildlife Action Plan.

Ecological LandscapeCommunity
Central Lake Michigan Coastal Great Lakes Ridge and Swale
Central Lake Michigan Coastal Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
Central Lake Michigan Coastal Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
Central Lake Michigan Coastal Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
Central Sand Plains Floodplain Forest
Central Sand Plains Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
Central Sand Plains Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
Central Sand Plains Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
Forest Transition Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
Forest Transition Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
Forest Transition Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
North Central Forest Aspen-Birch
North Central Forest Mesic Cedar Forest
North Central Forest Northern Hardwood Swamp
North Central Forest Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
North Central Forest Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
North Central Forest Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
Northeast Sands Aspen-Birch
Northeast Sands Northern Dry Forest--mid seral
Northeast Sands Northern Dry Mesic--mid seral
Northeast Sands Northern Dry Mesic--late seral
Northeast Sands Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
Northeast Sands Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
Northeast Sands Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
Northern Highland Aspen-Birch
Northern Highland Northern Dry Mesic--mid seral
Northern Highland Northern Dry Mesic--late seral
Northern Highland Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
Northern Highland Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
Northern Highland Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Great Lakes Ridge and Swale
Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
Northwest Lowlands Aspen-Birch
Northwest Lowlands Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
Northwest Lowlands Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
Northwest Lowlands Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
Northwest Sands Aspen-Birch
Northwest Sands Northern Dry Forest--mid seral
Northwest Sands Northern Dry Mesic--mid seral
Northwest Sands Northern Dry Mesic--late seral
Southeast Glacial Plains Floodplain Forest
Superior Coastal Plain Aspen-Birch
Superior Coastal Plain Boreal Forest
Superior Coastal Plain Mesic Floodplain Terrace
Superior Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Forest--early seral
Superior Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Forest--mid seral
Superior Coastal Plain Northern Mesic Forest--late seral
Western Coulee and Ridges Floodplain Forest

* Ecological priority score is a relative measure that is not meant for comparison between species. This score does not consider socio-economical factors that may dictate protection and/or management priorities differently than those determined solely by ecological analysis. Further, a low ecological priority score does not imply that management or preservation should not occur on a site if there are important reasons for doing so locally.

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Issues/threats and conservation actions

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the WWAP because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.

Threats/issues and conservations actions for rare animals

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Last revised: Thursday, December 22, 2022