Eastern Wood-Pewee
An uncommon migrant in April and August/early October. They are found in small numbers at SCP and other wooded areas and are separated from the similar Phoebe by call, (pee-a wee) and wingbars.

 

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

A rare fall migrant. One of the empidonax complex identifiable only be call and they don’t call much here. A non-calling bird at SCP in October 1999 was probably this species.

Acadian Flycatcher
Probably a fairly common fall migrant in wooded areas such as SCP where up to a dozen have been reported. It can sometimes identified by a "pizza" call. A few can be found in the spring. This is the most likely empidonax to be found in central Florida.

Least Flycatcher
A very rare fall migrant. Another empidonax flycatcher that doesn't call much. It is probably more common than reported.

Photo: Herman

Eastern Phoebe
A common winter visitor, October - March, found in tree tops throughout the region. Note, phoebe has no wing bars and no eyerings. Up to 20 per day can be found. Fifty were reported from the Circle B Bar reserve in October, 2011.The LCBC high count of 190 was in 2006, 143 in 1991.

Vermillion Flycatcher

This western species is very rarely found in central Florida. We have one record from the Circle B-Bar Reserve on January 31, 2005.

Great Crested Flycatcher *
A common summer resident, March - September, found throughout the region. In southern Polk County a few birds over winter every year. Up to 20 per day may be found during nesting season.The LWCBC high count of 4 was in 1998.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Very rarely reported from central Florida. The identification can be trickey. We have one report from the Circle B Bar reserve near Lakeland in 2009.

Western Kingbird

A rare winter visitor, November - March becoming somewhat more common in the past few years. They can be found on utility wires in rural areas. In March of 2006 a kingbird evening roost with 31 birds was discovered east of Bartow. A high count of 3 reported from a PPM, January 1988. The LCBC high count of 10 was in 2006, 5 in 2005 and 4 in 2004.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
A rare winter visitor, November - March, sometime found on utility wires in rural areas. In the winter of 2004/2005 up to a dozen were seen in four different locations in the county.The four on Tindale Camp road near Dundee stayed until March. Six birds were found in March of 2006, loosely associated with a Kingbird roost east of Bartow. The LWCBC high count of 1 was in 1993 and LCBC of 1 in 2004 and 2005.

Eastern Kingbird *
A fairly common summer resident, April - September, found mostly in the Green Swamp and PPM. Flocks of up to 60 have been reported migrating in the fall. Nesting season birds numbered 30 in June 1997.

Gray Kingbird
These coastal birds are very rare inland. We have three records, the first 10 miles east of Lake Wales in March 1975, and the last in the Green Swamp, March 1991.

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