Hammond's flycatcher

Empidonax hammondii

Photo by Pablo Leautaud (Flickr)

Common name:
Hammond's flycatcher (en); papa-moscas-de-Hammond (pt); moucherolle de Hammond (fr); mosquero de Hammond (es); tannenschnäppertyrann (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Range:
This species breeds in western North America, from Alaska to central California and New Mexico. They migrate south to winter from northern Mexico to Nicaragua.

Size:
These birds are 12,5-14,5 cm long and have a wingspan of 22 cm. They weigh 8-12 g.

Habitat:
The Hammond's flycatcher is mostly found in mature mountain forests, especially cool coniferous forests or mixed forests with Douglas firs Pseudotsuga or spruces Picea mixed with aspens Populus or other deciduous trees. Outside the breeding season they are also found in tropical moist forests and dry scrublands always at high altitudes. They are present at altitudes of 1.000-3.000 m.

Diet:
They catch insects on the wing, sallying out from a perch to take beetles, moths, flies, leafhoppers and small wasps. They also glean caterpillars from the foliage.

Breeding:
Hammond's flycatchers breed in June-July. The female builds the nest, a compact cup made of weed stems, grass, bark and lichens, lined with finer materials such as feathers, fur and plant down. The nest is placed in an horizontal branch of a tall tree, 3-30 m above the ground. There she lays 3-4 white or yellowish eggs, sometimes with light reddish-brown spots. The female incubates the eggs alone for 12-15 days and the chicks are fed by both parents fledging 16-18 days after hatching. The chicks may remain with the parents for another 1-2 weeks.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 5-50 million individuals. The population as undergone a small increase over the last for decades so, although the logging of old-growth forests may pose an eventual threat, the species is not threatened.

Piratic flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Photo by Matthew Grube (Neotropical Birds)

Common name:
piratic flycatcher (en); bem-te-vi-pirata (pt); tyran pirate (fr); mosquero pirata (es); kurzschnabel-maskentyrann (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Range:
This species is found from southern Mexico to southern Brazil, northern Argentina and northern Chile.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 19-32 g.

Habitat:
The piratic flycatcher is mostly found in open forests and forest edges, but also secondary savannas, coffee plantations with tall trees, pastures and arable land. They can occur from sea level up to an altitude of 1.850 m.

Diet:
Unlike most other tyrant flycatchers, adult piratic flycatcher mostly eat fruits and berries, but will catch insects, especially dragonflies, to feed their young.

Breeding:
They breed in February-August. Piratic flycatcher get their name by the fact that they appropriate domed or enclosed nests of other, often larger, bird species. Once the persistence of the flycatchers has driven the rightful owners away, their eggs are removed, and the female lays 2-4 dark brown eggs with black spots, which she incubates alone for 15-16 days. The chicks fledge 18-20 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population estimated at 5-50 million individuals. Although this species may loose potential breeding habitat due to deforestation in the Amazon forest it is not threatened.

Black phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Photo by Matthew Field (Wikipedia)

Common name:
black phoebe (en); papa-moscas-fibi-preto (pt); moucherolle noir (fr); mosquero negro (es); schwarzkopf-phoebetyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This species is found along the south-western coast of the United States, throughout Mexico and Central America and into South America, where it is found along the foothills of the Andes from Venezuela to northern Argentina.


Size:
These birds are 16 cm long and weigh 15-22 g.


Habitat:
The black phoebe is mostly found in open areas near water, around lakes, river, streams, channels and ditches. They are also found in rocky cliffs, scrublands and even within urban areas. This species occurs from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.


Diet:
They are mainly insectivorous, taking beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, wild bees, wasps, flies, moths, caterpillars. They are also kwon to eat small fishes and small berries.


Breeding:
Black phoebes nest in open, semi-circular cups made of mud mixed with moss and grasses, and lined with feathers and hairs. The nest is plastered to a sheltered spot such as a crevice in a cliff face, bridge supports, culverts or walls, most often near water. The female lays 3-6 white eggs with a few faint speckles, which she incubates alone for 15-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-21 days after hatching. Each pair may raise 2-3 broods per year.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the population is believed to be increasing overall. In North America the population has increased by 32% per decade over the last 4 decades. The black phoebe may benefit from many human activities, but destruction of riparian habitats and diversion of water is a concern.

Chapada flycatcher

Suiriri islerorum

Photo by Nick Athanas (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
chapada flycatcher (en); suiriri-da-chapada (pt); tyranneau des isler (fr); fiofío de la chapada (es); chapadatyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This South American species is found in central and south-western Brazil, in Maranhão,Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, and in adjacent parts of eastern Bolivia.


Size:
These birds are 16 cm long and weigh 20-25 g.


Habitat:
The chapada flycatcher is dry savannas and scrublands, mostly in areas of cerrado at altitudes of 250-750 m.


Diet:
They mainly eat insects and other arthropods, but will occasionally also eat fruits.


Breeding:
Chapada flycatchers breed in September-December. The nest is basket made of plant fibres, lichens and dry leaves, lined with silk cotton, and placed in a fork in a tree or scrub up to 2 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-2 pale cream eggs, which she incubates alone for 15-16 days. The chicks fledge 18-19 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a large breeding range and the population is described as rare to locally fairly common. The species was only described in 2001 and it declined by 30% since then. The main threats are habitat conversion for Eucalyptus and pine plantations, livestock farming, large-scale cultivation of soybeans, rice and other crops, and urbanization.

Willow flycatcher

Empidonax traillii

Photo by Larry Thompson (Discover Life)

Common name:
willow flycatcher (en); maria-fibiu (pt); moucherolle des saules (fr); mosquero saucero (es); weidenschnäppertyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This species breeds in southern Canada and in most of the United States with the exception of the south-easternmost corner of the country. They migrate south to winter in Central America and in Colombia, western Venezuela, northern Ecuador and northern Peru.


Size:
These birds are 13-17 cm long and have a wingspan of 19-24 cm. They weigh 11-16 g.


Habitat:
Willow flycatchers are found breeding in moist scrublands and scrub-dominated wetlands. Outside the breeding season they are found in dry scrublands, moist forests and pastures. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 2.500 m.


Diet:
They hunt insects on the wing, mostly taking Hymenoptera, Diptera, Cicadellidae, Coleoptera and Formicidae.


Breeding:
Willow flycatchers breed in May-July. The nest is an open cup woven of weed stems, plant fibres, pine needles, shredded bark, and grass, lined with feathers, hair, rootlets, and fine materials. The nest is placed low in a scrub or small tree. The female lays 3-5 creamy white or buff eggs with dark markings, which are incubated for 13-14 days. The chicks fledge 13-15 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and a global population estimated 3,3 million individuals. The population has undergone a small increase over the last 4 decades.

Yellow-breasted flatbill

Tolmomyias flaviventris

Photo by Fayard Mohammed (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
yellow-breasted flatbill (en); bico-chato-amarelo (pt); platyrhynque à poitrine jaune (fr); picoplano pechiamarillo (es); gelbbauch-breitschnabeltyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This South American species is found from Colombia and Venezuela south to Peru and south-eastern Brazil. It also occurs in Trinidad and Tobago.


Size:
These birds are 12-13 cm long and weigh 10-13 g.


Habitat:
They are mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical forests, both in dry areas and moist areas, but also in mangroves, swamp forests, dry savannas, scrublands, rural gardens and plantations. They are found from sea level up to an altitude of 1.100 m.


Diet:
Yellow-breasted flatbills perch in high spots, from where they sally forth to catch flying insects.


Breeding:
These birds nest in a bottle-shaped structure, made of plant fibres and suspended from a branch, usually near a wasp nest, which presumably provides some protection from predators. There the female lays 2-3 creamy-white eggs with violet markings, which she incubates alone for 17-18 days. The chicks fledge around 18 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
The yellow-breasted flatbill has a very large breeding range and is described as common. This species is able to thrive in some converted habitats, thus its population is suspected to be at least stable.

Golden-faced tyrannulet

Zimmerius chrysops

Photo by Lior Kislev (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
golden-faced tyrannulet (en); poiaeiro-de-face-dourada (pt); tyranneau à face d'or (fr); tiranuelo cejiamarillo (es); goldgesicht-kleintyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This species is found in northern Venezuela, western Colombia, Ecuador and across the border into northern Peru.


Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 8-10 g.


Habitat:
Golden-faced tyrannulets are mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical mountain forests and also in other moist forests and sometimes in coffee plantations. They occur at altitudes of 500-2.700 m.


Diet:
They eat both small arthropods and berries of mistletoes such as Antidaphne and Phoradendron.


Breeding:
These birds breed in March-June. The female builds the nest, a ball of moss and lichens with a side entrance, placed under on the side tree, under a branch, or in an epiphyte, around 5 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-2 cream-white eggs with brown spots, which she mostly incubates alone for 16-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 17-19 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN staus - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Olive-striped flycatcher

Mionectes olivaceus

Photo by Torres Monttenegro (Planet of Birds)

Common name:
olive-striped flycatcher (en); abre-asa-listado (pt); pipromorphe olive (fr); mosquero oliváceo (es); olivkopf-pipratyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This species is found from Costa Rica, south to northern Venezuela and along the western slopes of the Andes to northern Bolivia. It is also found in Trinidad and Tobago.


Size:
These birds are 12,5-14 cm long and weigh 11-15 g.


Habitat:
Olive-striped flycatchers are mostly found in moist tropical forests, but also in plantations and patches of degraded former forest. They occur at altitudes of 500-3.000 m.


Diet:
Unlike most flycatcher, their diet includes a large portion of seeds, fruits and berries, but they also eat some insects and spiders.


Breeding:
The nest of the olive-striped flycatcher is a moss-covered ball with a side entrance, which is suspended from a root or branch, often over water. There the female lays 2-3 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 18-20 days. The chicks fledge 18-21 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common but patchily distributed. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Lesser elaenia

Elaenia chiriquensis

Photo by Marlos Menêzes (Flickr)

Common name:
lesser elaenia (en); chibum (pt); élénie menue (fr); fiofío belicoso (es); grauwangen-olivtyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This species is found in Central and South America, from Costa Rica to Missiones, in Argentina.


Size:
These birds are 14 cm long and weigh 15-18 g.


Habitat:
Lesser elaenias are mostly found in tropical dry savannas, but also in dry scrublands, dry forests, along river and creeks. They are also found in human-modified habitats, like second growths, plantations and arable land.


Diet:
These birds are mostly insectivorous, capturing insects in flight. When in season, the fruits of Miconia scrubs are also an important food source.


Breeding:
Lesser elaenias breed in September-December. The nest is a shallow cup made of plant fibres and grasses, placed in a fork in a tree. The female lays 1-3 pale cream eggs with dark spots, which are incubated for 12-15 days. The chicks fledge 15 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to fires, over-grazing by cattle, slash-and burn agriculture and selective logging.

Grey-backed tachuri

Polystictus superciliaris

Photo by Rafael Fortes (Bird Forum)

Common name:
grey-backed tachuri (en); papa-moscas-de-costas-cinzentas (pt); tyranneau bridé (fr); tachurí gris (es); graunacken-grastyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This South American species is endemic to south-eastern Brazil, being found from Bahia to Minas Gerais and northern São Paulo.


Size:
These birds are 10 cm long and weigh 6 g.


Habitat:
Grey-backed tachuris are found in arid mountain scrublands, deserted pastures and rocky outcrops in savannas and dry grasslands, at altitudes of 900-2.300 m.


Diet:
They feed on small arthropods, namely Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera and Orthoptera.


Breeding:
These birds breed in June-December. The nest is a deep cup made of grasses, leaf fragments, flowers and other plant fibres, and lined with feathers. The nest is placed in the fork of a branch stemming directly from the trunk of a bush, up to 1 m above the ground, and it is attached to the branches with spider webs and silk from butterfly cocoons. The female lays 2 white or light cream eggs, which she incubates alone for 16-19 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15-18 days after hatching, but may continue to receive food for another 1-3 weeks.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range, but it is described as uncommon. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to habitat loss caused by conversion to cattle ranches and mining operations, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Masked water-tyrant

Fluvicola nengeta

(Photo from Paraiba)

Common name:
masked water-tyrant (en); lavadeira-mascarada (pt); moucherolle aquatique (fr); viudita enmascarada (es); graurücken-wassertyrann (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae


Range:
This South American species occur in two separate populations. The nominate Fluvicola nengeta nengeta is found in eastern and south-eastern Brazil, while F. n. atripennis is found on the Pacific slopes of western Ecuador and north-western Peru.


Size:
These birds are 15-16 cm long and weigh 21 g.


Habitat:
These birds are typically found near rivers and lagoons, in swamps or near the sea, using moist scrublands, cerrado woodlands, degraded tropical forests, mangroves and arable and. They are also found inside urban areas.


Diet:
Masked water-tyrants collect their prey on the ground or in the muddy banks of rivers, lagoons or swamps, mostly insects like butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers and larvae.


Breeding:
These birds breed in July-November. They build a cup-shaped nest made of twigs and other plant material and lined with feathers, hairs and sometimes plastic. The nest is placed on a small tree or bush, up to 2 m above the ground, generally near water. The female lays 3 white eggs with brown spots, which she seems to incubate alone for 15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10-12 days after hatching, but only become fully independent about 1 week later.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
The masked water-tyrant has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This species can easily adapt to human-changed habitats and in Brazil it seems to be spreading south as a result of deforestation.

Western kingbird

Tyrannus verticalis

(Photo from Wikipedia)

Common name:

western kingbird (en); suiriri-ocidental (pt); tyran de l'ouest (fr); tirano occidental (es); Arkansaskönigstyrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

This species is widespread in the western parts of North American, from the southern parts of the Canadian provinces of British Columbia , Alberta , Saskatchewan and Manitoba, south to northern Mexico, and east to Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and easternmost Texas. They migrate south to winter across Central America.

Size:

These birds are 20-24 cm long and have a wingspan of 37-40 cm. They 37-46 g.

Habitat:

Western kingbirds are mostly found in dry, open habitats with scattered trees and scrubs, or tall man-made structures. These include grassland, desert scrub, pasture, savanna, and urban areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.300 m.

Diet:

They mostly eat large flying insects, including Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera, but also other arthropods such as spiders. They also eat fruits and berries such as elderberry, hawthorn or mulberries.

Breeding:

Western kingbirds breed in May-July. They nest in an open cup of grass stems, rootlets, fine twigs, bark and plant fibres, lined with fine material such as wool, cotton, hair, feathers, and cloth. The nest is typically placed in tree, bush or on human-made structures, such as utility poles and fence posts. The female lays 3-5 whitish eggs with brown, lavender, and black blotches, which she incubates alone for 18-19 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 16-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and a global population of 19 million individuals. The population has undergone a small increase over the last 4 decades and is thus not threatened at present.

Suiriri flycatcher

Suiriri suiriri

Photo by Tadeusz Stawarczyk (Internet Bird Collection) 

Common name:

suiriri flycatcher (en); suiriri-cinzento (pt); tyranneau suiriri (fr); fiofío suirirí (es); graunscheitel-olivtyrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

This South American species is found in south-western Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina.

Size:

These birds are 15-16 cm long and weigh 14-15 g.

Habitat:

Suiriri flycatchers are mostly found in dry savannas and other semi-open habitats, but can also occur in dry forests. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:

They mostly feed on insects and other arthropods, which they hunt by perch-gleaning, sallying and aerial hawking. They sometimes also eat small fruits and berries.

Breeding:

Suiriri flycatcher breed in July-December. The female builds the nest, a cup made of vegetable fibres, lichens and dry leaves and lined with a thick layer of silk cotton. The nest is placed in a fork in a branch of a small tree or bush, about 2 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-3 white or cream-coloured eggs, which she incubates alone for 15-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 17-19 days after hatching. Each pair raises 1-2 broods per season.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, the suiriri flycatcher is described as fairly common. The population is declining owing to widespread habitat conversion to pine and eucalyptus plantations and soy-bean and rice crops as well as habitat clearance for livestock farming.

Olive-sided flycatcher

Contopus cooperi

Photo by Mark Chappell (Arkive)

Common name:

olive-sided flycatcher (en); piui-boreal (pt); moucherolle à côtés olive (fr); pibí boreal (es); olivflanken-schnäppertyrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

These birds breed across Canada, Alaska and the north-eastern United States, and also along the western United States down to California. they migrate south to winter in Central America and the Andes region of northern South America.

Size:

Olive-sided flycatchers are 18-20 cm long and weigh 32-37 g.

Habitat:

They breed in mountain and northern coniferous forests, at forest edges and in forest openings such as meadows and ponds. They winter in various forested tropical habitats.

Diet:

They eat flying insects, mostly bees.

Breeding:

Olive-sided flycatchers nest is an open cup of twigs, rootlets, and lichens, placed out near the tip of an horizontal branch of a tree, about 10 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-5 creamy white or buff eggs with brownish spots, which she incubates alone for 15-19 days while receiving food from the male. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15-19 days after hatching. Each pair raises a single brood per year.

Conservation:

IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)

This species has a very large breeding range and a global population of 1,2 million individuals. The species has undergone a large decline, equating to a loss of over 75% of the population in the last 40 years, mostly caused by habitat loss and alteration of forest management practices that may limit breeding success. Loss of wintering habitat may also have a negative impact on this species.

Boat-billed flycatcher

Megarynchus pitangua

Photo by Steve Garvie (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:

boat-billed flycatcher (en); neinei (pt); tyran pitangua (fr); bienteveo pitanguá (es); starkschnabel-maskentyrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

This species is found from Mexico south to Bolivia, southern Brazil and Argentina, and also in the Caribbean island of Trinidad.

Size:

This large tyrant flycatcher is 23 cm long and weighs 60-80 g.

Habitat:

These birds are mostly found in dry open woodlands and scrublands, but are also ound in moist forests, degraded former forests, rural gardens and plantations. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.900 m.

Diet:

Boat-billed flycatchers mostly eat insects and berries, but are also known to hunt small lizards and birds.

Breeding:

They breed in March-July. The female is responsible for building the nest, an open saucer of sticks lined with rootlets, placed on a tree 7-30 m above the ground. There she lays 2-3 whitish eggs with brown and lilac blotches, which are incubated by both parents for 17-18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 23-26 days after hatching. Each pair may raise 1-2 broods per season.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population estimated at 5-50 million individuals. Boat-billed flycatcher tolerate degraded habitats, and are therefore likely to resist large-scale habitat changes taking place throughout their range. Consequently, the population is suspected to be stable.

Plain-crested elaenia

Elaenia cristata

(Photo from Guia das Aves do Pantanal)

Common name:

plain-crested elaenia (en); guaracava-de-topete-uniforme (pt); élénie huppée (fr); fiofío crestado (es); braunscheitel-olivtyrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

This species is found in northern South America, occurring in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru,Suriname, and Venezuela.

Size:

The plain-crested elaenia is 15-15 cm long and weighs 19-21 g.

Habitat:

This species is found in dry savanna, subtropical or tropical dry scrubland, and subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland. They are often found in savanna with scattered bushes and in cerrado.

Diet:

Plain-crested elaenias eat both insects and fruits.

Breeding:

These birds breed in September-December. The nest is a woven cup of fine materials, lined with wool, generally placed in bush or small tree up to 3 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 white eggs which may or may not have brown speckles. The eggs are incubated for 15-16 days and the chicks fledge 16-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common throughout this range. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to fires, over-grazing by cattle, slash-and burn agriculture and selective logging, but overall this species is not considered threatened at present.

Fork-tailed flycatcher

Tyrannus savana

Photo by Yves Roumazeilles (Roumazeilles.net)

Common name:

fork-tailed flycatcher (en); tesourinha (pt); tyran des savanes (fr); tijereta sabanera (es); gabelschwanz-königstyrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

This species is found from central Mexico all the way south to central Argentina.

Size:

Due to their extremely long tail, males are larger than female, being 37-41 cm long while females are just 28-30 cm long. They weigh 28-32 g.

Habitat:

Fork-tailed flycatchers are found in a wide variety of habitats including pastures, open savannas and cerrado, and riparian forests. They are also open residential areas with scattered trees.

Diet:

These birds mostly hunt insects in flight, but will also eat berries and small fruits during winter if insects become scarce.

Breeding:

Fork-tailed flycatchers breed in September-December. Both sexes build the nest, an open cup made of twigs placed in a small tree 2-6 m above the ground. The female lays 1-3 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 13-16 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has a very large breeding range and has a global population estimated at 5-50 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable owing to its nomadic nature and ability to thrive in a wide range of open habitats.

Brown-crested flycatcher

Myiarchus tyrannulus

Photo by Greg Lasley (Greg Lasley Nature Photography) 

Common name:

brown-crested flycatcher (en); maria-cavaleira-de-rabo-enferrujado (pt); tyran de Wied (fr); copetón tiranillo (es); braunschopftyrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

This species is found breeding from the southern United States down to Argentina and Bolivia, and on Trinidad and Tobago. It is resident in most of its range, individuals breeding in the United States retreat to Mexico or southern Florida in winter.

Size:

The brown-crested flycatcher is 20-22 cm long and weighs 30 g.

Habitat:

These birds are found in saguaro deserts, riparian deciduous woodlands, and shade trees in urban areas. They can also be found in open woodlands of mesquite, hackberry, as well as in cottonwood, willow, and sycamore woodlands.

Diet:

They primarily eat insects, which they catch in flight. They also collect some food on the ground, namely insect larvae and fruits.

Breeding:

Brown-crested flycatchers breed in May-December. They nest in a tree cavity, often in woodpecker holes or in human made holes. There the female lays 3-6 yellowish eggs which are incubated for 13-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and ledge 15-16 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population of 8 million individuals. The population trend is increasing in North America, but there are no good quality trend data regarding the much larger South American population.

Large elaenia

Elaenia spectabilis

Photo by Luis Florit (Luis Adrián Florit's Homepage)

Common name:

large elaenia (en); guaracava-grande (pt); élénie remarquable (fr); fiofío grande (es); graubrust-olivtyrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

This South American species is found from Colombia, through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, and into Paraguay and Argentina.

Size:

These birds are 18 cm long and weigh 26-30 g.

Habitat:

These birds are found in tropical and sub-tropical moist lowland forests, especially along forest edges. They are also found in dry scrublands and cerrado habitats.

Diet:

The large elaenia feeds on arthropods and fruits.

Breeding:

These birds breed in November-March. They build a cup-shaped nest using vegetable fibers, roots, lichens and mosses. The nest is placed on a fork in a tree about 5-8 m above the ground. There the female lays 2-3 cream-coloured eggs with dark marks, which are incubated by both sexes for 14-15 days. The chicks are fed insects and fruits by both parents and fledge 15-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least concern)

The large elaenia has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, this species is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Common tody-flycatcher

Todirostrum cinereum

Common name:

common tody-flycatcher (en); ferreirinho-relógio (pt); todirostre familier (fr); titirijí común (es); graugelb-todityrann (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Tyrannidae

Range:

These birds are found from southern Mexico to north-western Peru, eastern Bolivia and southern Brazil.

Size:

This tinny tyrant flycatcher is 9,5-11 cm long and weighs 6,5-7 g.

Habitat:

The common tody-flycatcher is mostly found in open habitats, namely gardens, shady plantations, second growth and the edges and clearings of forest. It avoids the dense interior of mature woodland and also arid areas. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.500 m.

Diet:

This active insectivores mostly hunts flies and butterflies, as well as other invertebrates taken from the vegetation.

Breeding:

The common tody-flycatcher breeds in July-November. Both male and female build a pouch nest with a visored side entrance, which is suspended from a thin branch or vine 1-5 m high in a tree. There the female lays 1-3 white eggs which she incubates alone for 15-16 days. The chicks fledge 16-17 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

This species has an extremely large breeding range and a global population of 5-50 million individuals. This species benefits from deforestation and is therefore suspected to be increasing as a result of large scale habitat changes within its range.