Pale-edged flycatcher

Myiarchus cephalotes

Photo by Nick Athanas (Antpitta)

Common name:
pale-edged flycatcher (en); maria-cavaleira-dos-Andes (pt); tyran givré (fr); copetón montañero (es); Andenschopftyrann (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Range:
This species is found form northern Venezuela and along the eastern slopes of the Andes through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru and into central Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 18-20 cm long and weigh 24-28 g.

Habitat:
The pale-edged flycatcher is mostly found in mountain rainforests, but also in lowland rainforests and degraded patches of former rainforest. They are present at altitudes of 800-3.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on insects and other arthropods, especially butterflies and moths, cicadas, flies and wasps, but also katydids, dragonflies, beetles, spiders and millipedes.

Breeding:
Pale-edged flycatchers breed in March-December. They nest in a cavity in a tree or building, lined with dead leaves and small sticks. The female lays 2-3 white eggs with reddish-brown streaks, which she incubates alone for 18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge after 18 days, but only become fully independent 9-10 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as uncommon. This species exhibits flexibility in habitat choice and consequently its population is suspected to be stable.