This long-distance, relatively late-arriving migrant to Oregon is associated with shrub-dominated habitats, especially riparian willow thickets. The plumage has subtle tones of olive-green and gray; the species is without a visible eye-ring but the characteristic sneezy, abrupt song reveals its presence.

The Willow flycatcher breeds in western Oregon from sea level along the coast and interior to above 5,000 feet west of the Cascades summit. In eastern Oregon it breeds mostly above 1,000 feet from Klamath to Burns and also Lake County and Union County.

The habitat of breeding Willow flycatchers is characterized by dense shrubs and/or tall herbaceous plants with scattered openings of shorter herbaceous vegetation. Nesting and migratory habitat in eastern and southwestern Oregon is almost exclusively riparian zones, typically willows. In northwestern Oregon, both riparian and upland habitat is used for nesting.

The Willow flycatcher is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Northern Basin and Range and the Willamette Valley ecoregions.

Hear the song of the Willow flycatcher

Photo by ©Keith Kohl, ODFW