The Cliff flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea) is a species of bird native to South America. This bird is specialized in spectacular aerial hawking from perches on cliff faces when it catches flying insects.
The Cliff flycatcher has a wide beak and long pointed wings, resembling those of a swallow. The upper parts are dusky brown, with a distinctive rufous rump and base of tail. The tips of the wing feathers are dark, but the remaining parts are cinnamon-rufous and these are exposed in flight. The underparts are pale cinnamon-rufous, with some grey speckling on the throat.
Cliff flycatchers are only found east of the Andes cordillera. They are not found in Chile but occur in all other countries in South America. In the Amazon basin, the range of these birds surrounds the basin in the foothills and highest elevations at tributaries' headwaters; they range down to central Argentina west of the Pampas, and east of the Pampas to southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay; also southeast of the Amazon Basin in the Brazilian Highlands, to the Atlantic and south Atlantic coast of Brazil. Southern populations are migratory while more northern ones are sedentary. These flycatchers inhabit cliffs and gorges, canyons, rocky outcrops, quarries, and road cuttings in the vicinity of subtropical or tropical dry forests, moist lowland forests, moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former forests. They can also be found in cities.
Cliff flycatchers are diurnal birds. They usually spend time singly, in pairs or in family groups. When hunting, the flycatcher perches in a prominent position, sallying to hawk for insects in spectacular aerial flying displays. It will swoop and glide in the air. When in flight Cliff flycatchers are very fast and acrobatic. They communicate with high-pitched calls and sing at dawn.
Cliff flycatchers are carnivores (insectivores) and feed on a wide range of insects.
Little is known about the mating system and time of breeding of Cliff flycatchers. The nest on cliff ledges, stabilizing the nest by arranging pebbles in a ring to support the structure. In the city environment of São Paulo, they can breed on the windowsills of high-rise blocks. The female lays 2 eggs and incubates them for about 14 days. Both parents feed the chicks until they fledge which occurs approximately 15 days after hatching.
There are no major threats to Cliff flycatchers at present.
According to the IUCN Red List, the Cliff flycatcher is common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are increasing.
