Their plumage is very much the same, which makes them very difficult to tell apart. Many flycatchers use sound to recognize a member of their own species. All flycatchers have a flattened bill that is broad at the base and slightly hooked at the tip, with whiskers protruding out from the base of the bill. Foraging for food involves sitting still on a perch with sharp, upright posture and watching for insects flying by. Once one comes into sight, the flycatcher bursts forth and captures it with a short, swift flight, quickly returning back to the same perch.
Flycatchers eat mainly insects and spiders, sometimes berries.
Most flycatchers build open-cup nests in the branches of trees or shrubs. The females usually build the nests and incubate the eggs. The male helps feed the young and defends the nesting territory. During the mating season, these birds can often be seen courting in high-speed flight, male and female chasing each other among the trees. Most migrate to southern climates during the winter.