Flycatchers
Author: Bruce Neville

Description:
Tyrant Flycathers are small to medium-sized perching birds(Passeriformes) with large heads and long bills designed for capturing insects. Tyrant flycatchers get their name because of their ability to catch insects in midair as they are flying. The bill generally has a small hook at the tip of the top part and most species have naked feather shafts (rictal bristles) at the base of the bill that help them catch flying insects. Most species are colored in drab shades of brown, gray, and olive-green, but some species can have bright yellow or red feathers. Males and females generally look alike, but in some species, like the Vermilion Flycatcher, they are quite different. In some groups of flycatchers, the species are very hard to tell apart. Sometimes the only way you can tell one kind of flycatcher from the other is by their different calls. Many species have a colored patch of feathers on the top of the head that is kept hidden by other feathers, which comes out when courting or defending territory.

Geographic range:
The tyrant flycatchers are sometimes called New World flycatchers, since all of the species are found in North and South America (the new world). Tyrant flycatchers are usually found in tropical areas, but they breed in many different places. They breed as far north as Alaska and as far south as southern South America. Most species in the United States are migratory and move south for the winter. Of the nearly 400 species in the world, 32 have been definitely found in New Mexico. Many of these breed and most migrate south for the winter.

Habitat:
Tyrant flycatchers live in many different places. Some live in open areas and can be seen perched on fences or wires where they search for insects. Others search for insects in forests or piņon-juniper habitats. Some species are often found near water, while others can be found well away from water in the desert. Most species capture their insect prey in the air, but others may pick insects from the ground or leaves by hovering.

Food Web:
All tyrant flycatchers eat primarily insects, which they catch by darting from a perch to capture the insects in flight.

Reproduction and Development:
Most species of tyrant flycatcher in North America build nests made of twigs that look like open cups. They line these nests with feathers, grasses, and other soft materials. Some species regularly include a piece of shed snakeskin in the nest lining. Other species are cavity nesters and use abandoned holes built by woodpeckers. Some species build mud nests on the sides of cliffs or caves. The eggs are usually taken care of by the female, though the male often feeds the female on the nest and helps feed the young once they hatch.

Behavior:
Tyrant flycatchers are very territorial and defend their territoryprimarily with their voice. Males and females often perform courtship displays. In some species, like the Vermilion Flycatcher, the display flight is very noticeable and eye-catching. Flycatchers can usually put up with human and some species are found in suburban areas.

Tyrant flycatchers rely very heavily on vocalizations to defend their territory, attract mates, and recognize other birds. The calls are generally simple and non-musical. Some species know how to call at birth, while in others there is at least some learning needed. Flycatchers also make non-vocal sounds, like a sharp bill snap.

Ecosystem roles:
Tyrant flycatchers consume huge quantities of insects, so they have a huge impact on the number of insects living around them.

Conservation:
Most kinds of tyrant flycatchers seem relatively secure. However, the Southwestern race of the Willow Flycatcher, which breeds in New Mexico, is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves, Birds
Order: Passerines, Perching Birds
Family: Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers, Mosqueros, Tiranos

The species that have occurred in New Mexico are:

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Camptostoma imberbe, breeds locally, migrates out of state in winter
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus cooperi, breeds, migrates out of state in winter
Greater Pewee, Contopus pertinax, breeds locally, migrates out of state in winter
Western Wood-Pewee, Contopus sordidulus, breeds, migrates out of state in winter
Eastern Wood-Pewee, Contopus virens, very rare visitor in migration
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris, very rare visitor in migration
Acadian Flycatcher, Empidonax virescens, very rare visitor in migration
Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax traillii, breeds locally, migrates out of state in winter
Least Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus, uncommon visitor in migration
Hammond's Flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii, breeds, migrates out of state in winter
Dusky Flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri, breeds, migrates out of state in winter
Gray Flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii, breeds, migrates out of state in winter
Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis, very rare visitor in migration
Cordilleran Flycatcher, Empidonax occidentalis, breeds, migrates out of state in winter
Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Empidonax fulvifrons, formerly bred?, now very rare summer visitor
Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans, breeds widely, at least some present year-round
Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe, uncommon winter visitor
Say's Phoebe , Sayornis saya, breeds widely, at least some present year-round
Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus, breeds, migrates out of state in winter
Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Myiarchus tuberculifer, breeds locally, migrates out of state in winter
Ash-throated Flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens, breeds widely, migrates out of state in winter
Great Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus, uncommon visitor in migration
Brown-crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus tyrannulus, breeds locally, migrates out of state in winter
Great Kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus, very rare visitor
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Myiodynastes luteiventris, very rare visitor
Piratic Flycatcher, Legatus leucophaius, very rare visitor
Couch's King bird , Tyrannus couchii, very rare visitor
Cassin's King bird , Tyrannus vociferans, breeds widely, migrates out of state in winter
Thick-billed King bird , Tyrannus crassirostris, breeds locally, migrates out of state in winter
Western King bird , Tyrannus verticalis, breeds widely, migrates out of state in winter
Eastern King bird , Tyrannus tyrannus, breeds, migrates out of state in winter
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus, breeds, migrates out of state in winte

References:
Austin, Oliver L.; and Arthur Singer. 1961. Birds of the World. New York: Golden, 316 p.

Ehrlich, Paul R.; David S. Dobkin; Darryl Wheye. 1988. The Birder's Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. New York: Simon & Schuster, 785 p.

Kaufman, Kenn. 1996. Lives of North American Birds. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 675 p

National Geographic Society. 2002. Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 480 p.

Sibley, David Allen. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Knopf, 544 p.

Sibley, David Allen. 2001. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. New York: Knopf, 588 p.

Related Terms: tyrannulets, phoebes, kingbirds, pewees, tyrant flycatchers