Common vermilion flycatcher, Galapagos flycatcher, Darwin’s flycatcher
The Vermilion flycatcher (Pyrocephalus obscurus) is a small passerine bird found throughout South America and southern North America. The species was first described in the late 1830s as a result of the voyages of Charles Darwin. The common name of this bird comes from its vibrant coloration and its membership in the flycatcher family, which is reflected in its insect-rich diet.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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InsectivoresAn insectivore is a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects. An alternative term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of e...
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ArborealArboreal locomotion is the locomotion of animals in trees. In habitats in which trees are present, animals have evolved to move in them. Some anima...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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GlidingGliding flight is heavier-than-air flight without the use of thrust and is employed by gliding animals. Birds in particular use gliding flight to m...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withRe
Red AnimalsMale Vermilion flycatchers are bright red, with contrasting dark brown plumage. Females are drab and have a peach-colored belly with a dark gray upperside. The reddish color varies but can be vermilion, scarlet, or orangish. In males, the crown, chest, and underparts are red. The lores (region in front of the eyes), nape, ear coverts, wings, upperparts, and tail are all brown to blackish brown. The female has a grayish crown, as well as grayish ear coverts, wings, and tail. The flight feathers and wing coverts are slightly paler gray, which create a barring effect. The supercilium (eyebrow) is whiter. The underparts start white but become light red moving downward. Juveniles of both sexes look similar to adult females; juvenile males have much brighter red underparts, whereas juvenile females have yellowish underparts. Plumage appears constant throughout the year for both adult sexes and juveniles. They have a slight crest, which can be raised when needed.
The range of Vermilion flycatchers includes almost all of Mexico; it extends north into the southwestern United States, and south to scattered portions of Central America and parts of northwestern and central South America. They have also ranged as far north as Canada. These birds generally prefer somewhat open areas and are found in trees or shrubs in savannah, scrub, riparian woodlands, tropical and moist forests, as well as in agricultural areas. They can also be found in the desert, but usually near water.
Vermilion flycatchers are generally solitary but may also be seen spending time in pairs. They are active during the day spending most of their time foraging on insects which are usually taken in mid-air, after a short sally flight from a perch. These birds perch in shrubs or small trees waiting for prey to pass them by; as soon as prey is spotted, they will pursue it with acrobatic chase until capture. Vermilion flycatchers communicate with a "peet-peet" trill call and also have a pleasant, tinkling flight song.
Vermilion flycatchers are carnivores (insectivores) and feed mostly on insects such as flies, grasshoppers, and beetles. They will also eat fish and bees occasionally.
Vermilion flycatchers are monogamous, which means that the male and the female have only one partner. In the north, they usually breed between March-July and in the south of their range breeding occurs in October-January. Pairs nest solitary and produce two broods per year. Vermilion flycatchers construct shallow cup nests made of small twigs and soft materials, lined with hair; the nest's rim is often covered with lichen. Typically located within 6 ft (1.8 m) of the ground, the nest is placed in the horizontal fork of a tree branch. The female lays 2 to 4 (although 3 is most typical) whitish eggs which are incubated for around 2 weeks by the female. The chicks are altrical; they are hatched naked and with closed eyes. Both parents feed chicks, although the male may tend to fledglings while the female builds an additional nest. The young are ready to leave the nest 15 days after hatching and become reproductively mature when they are 2 years old.
Vermilion flycatchers are not threatened at present; however, these small birds suffer from habitat loss due to urbanization and the overuse of pesticides where flycatchers occur can reduce the number of their prey items.
According to the What Bird resource, the total population size of the Vermilion flycatcher is estimated at 2,000,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
