Recently I was looking out of the window and saw a bird I recognized as a flycatcher. But which flycatcher was the question I needed answered.
The Peterson field guide begins with “Most flycatchers perch quietly, upright on exposed branches and sally forth to snap up insects. Bill flattened with bristles at base. Food: flying insects. Range: New World; majority in the tropics. #of species: World 365; East 16 (+10 accidentals).
It didn’t surprise me at all that there are 365 species of flycatchers worldwide. East of the Rockies there are 17 species alone. The species is divided into tyrant, myiarchus and empidonax. The latter group have eye-rings and wing bars. Identify by habitat and voice. The Golden Field Guide describes, as regarding the Tyrant: large –headed, broad-billed, short-legged birds that perch on bare branches or wires waiting for flying insects.
Many of the small species (Empidonax) flip their tails. Included under flycatchers are kingbirds, myiarchus, phoebes and pewees. Myiarchus are described as large-sized, olive head and back, yellowish belly and bright, rusty tail; all have wingbars. Their posture is more erect than kingbirds and they are more inclined to perch in the shade.
All nest in cavities in trees and posts, also in bird, mail or newspaper boxes.
Phoebes are medium-sized flycatchers that differ from the others in their habitat of leisurely jerking their longish tail downward.Phoebes do not have an eye ring. Adults lack conspicuous wingbars, but young may have quite conspicuous ones. Typically they are found near water. Although all species occur and even nest far from water, Phoebes nest under overhanging cliffs or banks, under bridges and eaves or inside farm buildings. Quite tame and easily seen as they perch in the open, usually less than 20 ft. off the ground.
I am now realizing that I might have bitten off more than I can chew with this column topic. But, let us continue now that we have begun our study of the Flycatcher families. We will learn more in the August column. Resources: Peterson and Golden Field Guides.
Submitted by Susan Warren
of Mapleton