Flammulated flycatcher

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Flammulated flycatcher

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Ramphotrigon
Species:
R. flammulatum
Binomial name
Ramphotrigon flammulatum
(Lawrence, 1875)
Synonyms
  • Myiarchus flammulatus Lawrence, 1875

The flammulated flycatcher (Ramphotrigon flammulatum) is a species of

deciduous forest, arid thorn forest, and scrubby woodland of Mexico’s Pacific coast. The flycatcher is an olive to gray-brown bird with a streaked, pale gray chest, white throat, black bill, dark gray feet, and dark brown wings. It is a skulking bird that typically remains hidden in the underbrush. It feeds by gleaning
insects off of leaves and twigs that it spots from an exposed perch. The female lays approximately three eggs in a nest made in a shallow tree cavity.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1875 by ornithologist

paraphyletic with respect to Deltarhynchus.[5][6][7] Based on the genetic results the flammulated flycatcher was moved to Ramphotrigon.[8][9] The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word flammula, which means "little flame".[10] The flycatcher has no subspecies.[9]

Description

Flammulated flycatcher at Llano de Horno, Mexico.

The flammulated flycatcher is approximately 6 to 6.5 inches (15-16.5 cm) in length and has a chunky body.[11] Adult males and females are similar in plumage, with each possessing olive to a worn gray-brown upperparts and head. A whitish supraloral stripe and crescent are behind the bird's eyes. It also has a dusky lore. The throat is whitish and the chest is a pale gray with inconspicuous dusky streaking, while the belly and undertail coverts are a pale yellow.[11] Additionally, this species has dark brown, well-rounded wings with pale cinnamon-edged coverts and remiges.[11] The wings are about 3 inches (7.6 cm) long.[2] The tail is also a dark brown edged with a narrow band of pale cinnamon.[11] It is barely shorter than the wing and slightly rounded.[2] The bird's bill is black, broad, and triangular with a slightly paler base and about half the length of its head.[2][3] The legs are a dark gray and end with large, curved, and sharp claws.[2] It has an orange mouth and a brown eye.[2] The juvenile is similar to the adult, although the tail has a broad band of pale cinnamon.[11]

Vocalization

The flammulated flycatcher mostly sings from April to August, which includes its breeding season, and tends to remain hidden while singing.[11] The song of the flycatcher is a plaintive whistle followed by a short but quick roll.[11] It can also give a plaintive and slurred chew call, which is often sung three to five times in a descending series, as well as a squeaky chatter.[11] Calls are the same for males and females and are given throughout the day to give a location, identify an individual, sound an alarm, and mark the limits of a territory, among other functions.[3] During the breeding season, males give what is known as a dawn song every morning, which includes the calls chee-bee beet and churr-r-r-bee bee in alternation.[3]

Distribution and habitat

This flycatcher is

deciduous forest, arid and semi-arid thorn forest, and scrubby woodland at about 1000–1400 meters (3280–4593 ft) above sea level.[3][11]
This species is non-migratory.

Status

The flammulated flycatcher is listed as being of

least concern on the IUCN Red List owing to its large range and the belief that the total population numbers over 10,000 individuals; however, no precise estimate on the bird's population exists.[12] While the species is known to be uncommon in parts of its range, its population is not believed to be declining enough to pass the threshold of 30% in ten years or three generations necessary to be listed as near threatened, although the exact population trends also have not been quantified.[12]

Ecology and behavior

This flycatcher is a sluggish and skulking species that usually remains in the underbrush.[11] When excited either by an intruder or when attempting to attract a mate, this species raises the feathers on its crown to form what appears to be a crest; however, unlike the closely related genus Myiarchus, it does not bob its head while displaying the crest.[3]

Feeding

The flammulated flycatcher forages by perching on an open branch and looking outward and downward for prey, which primarily consists of insects. Once it spots a potential meal, the flycatcher rapidly and directly flies at the insect, which is normally on the exposed upper surface of a leaf or twig.[3] It hovers briefly before the insect before grabbing it in its beak and flying away to typically a new perch.[3]

Reproduction

The flycatcher breeds around June of each year. It nests in shallow tree cavities that are surprisingly close to the ground, at approximately 90 centimetres (35 in) above it.

cup and is composed of fine vegetable fibers, dried leaves, and shredded bark.[3] Unlike the similar Myiarchus flycatchers, it does not use snakeskin or other materials to build its nest.[3] The female lays three eggs that are creamy to pinkish in color and are decorated with brown and gray splotches.[11]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22700461A93777772.en
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Ridgway, Robert (1907). The Birds of North and Middle America. Washington: United States National Museum. pp. 502–504.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Lanyon, Wesley E. (1982). "Behavior, morphology, and systematics of the flammulated flycatcher of Mexico" (PDF). Auk. 99: 414–423.
  4. JSTOR 40168293
    .
  5. S2CID 85111751
    .
  6. S2CID 213158535
    .
  7. S2CID 228084618
    .
  8. doi:10.1093/ornithology/ukab037
    .
  9. ^
    Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Tyrant flycatchers"
    . IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  10. ISBN 0-304-52257-0
    .
  11. ^
    ISBN 0-19-854012-4
    .
  12. ^ a b c "Species factsheet: Deltarhynchus flammulatus". BirdLife International. 2019. Retrieved 2008-05-29.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deltarhynchus flammulatus.

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