The Oldest Hammond’s Flycatcher Rescued in Fairbanks

In an impressive milestone for avian researchers, a Hammond’s flycatcher has been confirmed as the oldest known member of her species at eight years old. On May 12, 2025, the female bird was gently freed from a research net by Robert Snowden, director of the Alaska Songbird Institute, at the Creamer’s Field Migration Station in Fairbanks.

Snowden’s excitement grew as he recognized an aluminum band on the tiny bird’s leg, indicating its previous capture and the long journey she likely made from Central America, possibly Nicaragua. Having first been banded on May 11, 2018, she has returned to Alaska each year since.

Weighing as much as two nickels, this remarkable flycatcher not only surpasses the previous record holder—also a female—who lived to be seven years old in Oregon, but also illustrates the ongoing research efforts funded by the Alaska Songbird Institute over the past 34 years. “Bird banding allows us to understand the longevity of birds,” Snowden stated, noting the importance of the location as the northernmost banding station on the continent.

Throughout her life, the flycatcher has been captured multiple times from 2018 through 2024, each time receiving health assessments before being released. “It’s really cool to have this bird make it back year after year,” said Snowden, referring to her return as “like an old friend.”

With an extensive 6,000-mile journey back and forth to Central America, this resilient bird faces numerous challenges, including natural predators and human-made hazards. The recent milestone highlights the ongoing research and dedication of the Alaska Songbird Institute to enhance our understanding of avian life.

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