| Bran-colored flycatcher | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Tyrannidae |
| Genus: | Myiophobus |
| Species: | M. fasciatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Myiophobus fasciatus (Müller, 1776) | |
 | |
The bran-colored flycatcher (Myiophobus fasciatus) is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama, on Trinidad, and in every mainland South American country except Chile. [2]
The bran-colored flycatcher has these five subspecies: [2]
What are now the mouse-gray flycatcher (M. crypterythrus) and rufescent flycatcher (M. rufescens) were originally described as species but in the mid-twentieth century were reclassified as subspecies of the bran-colored flycatcher. Following studies that identified plumage and vocal differences among them, beginning in 2016 taxonomic systems began splitting them. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Somewhat earlier, the olive-chested flycatcher (M. cryptoxanthus), which had also been described as a species and later merged into the bran-colored flycatcher, was again recognized as a full species. The two of them form a superspecies, and some authors have suggested that they should be assigned their own genus. [8]
The bran-colored flycatcher is 11 to 14 cm (4.3 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 7.1 to 17 g (0.25 to 0.60 oz). The sexes very similar. Adult males of the nominate subspecies M. f. fasciatus have a reddish brown crown with a partly hidden yellow to orange-rufous patch in the middle. Both sexes have brown lores, a short yellowish white line above them, and a thin white eye-ring on an otherwise reddish brown face. Their back and rump are reddish brown. Their wings are dusky to dark brown with thin buff edges on the flight feathers and wide buff-white tips on the wing coverts; the latter show as two wing bars. Their tail is dark brown. Their throat and underparts are mostly dull white with short grayish brown streaks thickly on the breast and flanks. Their belly sometimes has a yellow tinge. Adult females have a much smaller crown patch or none at all and have less heavily streaked underparts than males. [3] [9] [10] [11] [12]
All subspecies of the bran-colored flycatcher have a dark brown, cinnamon-brown, or brown iris and black legs and feet. Most have a black or blackish gray maxilla and a dark mandible with an orange-yellow, brownish pink, or pinkish gray base. The subspecies differ from the nominate and each other thus. [3] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
The bran-colored flycatcher has a disjunct distribution. The subspecies are found thus: [3] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
The bran-colored flycatcher inhabits a variety of landscapes across its wide range. In general they are somewhat open and include the interior and edges of dry forest, brushy savanna and pastures, and thickets along watercourses in arid areas. It also inhabits successional vegetation on riverbanks and islands and the Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela. In elevation it occurs between 700 and 1,250 m (2,300 and 4,100 ft) in Central America, between 600 and 2,000 m (2,000 and 6,600 ft) in Colombia, up to 1,700 m (5,600 ft) north of the Orinoco River and to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) south of it in Venezuela, between 300 and 1,100 m (1,000 and 3,600 ft) in Ecuador, up to 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in Peru, and from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in Brazil. [3] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
The bran-colored flycatcher is a year-round resident in the northern and central parts of its range. Populations south of central Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southeastern Brazil migrate north for the non-breeding season. Subspecies M. f. auriceps moves to eastern Peru and M. f. flammiceps to northern Brazil. The species is almost entirely a non-breeding visitor to Peru though some are thought to breed locally there. [3] [15] [16]
The bran-colored flycatcher's diet has not been detailed but is known to be primarily insects and a lesser amount of small berries. It typically forages singly or in pairs within about 2 m (7 ft) of the ground and seldom joins mixed-species feeding flocks. When perched it has an erect posture. It takes prey from foliage and twigs while perched and with short flights to hover-glean. [3] [9] [10] [11] [15]
The bran-colored flycatcher's breeding season varies geographically. It breeds between March and June in Central America and northern Venezuela, between March and November on Trinidad, August to October in Colombia, May to February in northern Brazil, and October to January or February in southern Brazil and Argentina. Its nest is a deep cup made from a wide variety of plant fibers held together with spider web; sometimes green moss or feathers are incorporated. Usually only the female builds the nest. It is typically placed in a branch fork, though also in bamboo, and within a few meters of the ground. The usual clutch is two eggs though clutches of one and three are known. The eggs have a background of ochre, cream, pinkish white, or pale brown with a wreath of various shades of brown, red-brown, or gray at the large end. The female alone incubates with a typical period of 14 to 17 days. Fledging occurs 13 to 17 days after hatch. Both parents provision nestlings and fledglings. Nests are known to be parasitized by the shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) in Argentina. [3] [10]
The bran-colored flycatcher's vocalizations appear to geographically vary somewhat. In Costa Rica it makes "a whistled whee, whee, whee...". [14] In Venezuela its dawn song is "a husky, whistled tep, chew-e" that is repeated over and over. During the day it makes a "short, squeezed wee'he 'he'he'e, nasal, almost rattlelike". [10] In Peru it sings "a repetitive series of rich notes: tchew...weet...tchee'wit...tchew...weet...". [15] The species typically sings from a low perch in the open. [3]
The IUCN has assessed the bran-colored flycatcher as being of Least Concern. It has an extremely large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be increasing. No immediate threats have been identified. [1] It is considered fairly common in Costa Rica, common in most of Colombia but rarer in the east, "common but somewhat local" in Venezuela, rare in Ecuador, and fairly common in Peru. [9] [10] [11] [14] [15] It occurs in many protected areas and "appears to thrive in shrubby successional vegetation that follows deforestation". [3]
The yellow-bellied elaenia is a small bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Mexico, in every Central American country, in every mainland South American country except Chile, on Trinidad and Tobago, and on several islands in the Lesser Antilles.
The ochre-bellied flycatcher is a small bird of the tyrant flycatcher family. It is found in Mexico, every Central American country, Trinidad and Tobago, and every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The southern beardless tyrannulet is a small passerine bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, in every mainland South American country except Chile, and on Trinidad.
The slaty-capped flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It is found from Costa Rica south to Bolivia and east to Venezuela and Trinidad.
The yellow tyrannulet is a small passerine bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, and in every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay.
The lesser elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, on Trinidad, in every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay, and as a vagrant on Bonaire and Curaçao.
The plain-crested elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The sepia-capped flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Mexico, every Central American country except El Salvador, and every mainland South American country except Chile; it is known in Uruguay as a vagrant.
The white-throated tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The olive-striped flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Trinidad, and Venezuela.
The greenish elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Mexico, every Central American country, and every mainland South American country except Chile and French Guiana. It has also occurred as a vagrant in southern Texas.
The olive-chested flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The flavescent flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The orange-crested flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The Roraiman flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, and possibly in Bolivia.
The rufous-browed tyrannulet is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, and possibly Peru.
The spot-winged antbird is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The mouse-colored antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The mouse-gray flycatcher or mouse-grey flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The rufescent flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Chile and Peru.
