The Study of Empidonax Flycatchers in Alabama has been difficult and incomplete. One reason for this is that all members of the genus are very similar in appearance and are notoriously difficult to identify in the field. To add to the problem, only one, the Acadian (Empidonax virescens), breeds in the state. All of the other five species of empids known to occur in Alabama are transients and are usually silent as they pass through on migration. Identification by voice is therefore next to impossible.