Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventrisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

General

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: Large flycatcher with boldly streaked olive-brown upperparts and pale yellow underparts with dark brown streaks. Eyestripes are thick and black with white borders. Wings are dark and edged with white. Tail is rust-brown. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: Native of Mexico and Central America, but also breeds in the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona. Preferred habitats include sycamore trees in deep canyons from 5,000 to 7,500 feet elevation.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"tre-le-re-re"

Interesting Facts

The Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is easily detected when it sallies forth from treetop perches in pursuit of flying prey, but when sitting still it is well camouflaged.

Like the closely related kingbirds, they have a brightly colored crest, but it is hidden among crown feathers.

Its call sounds like noises made by children's or pet's squeaky-toys.

A group of flycatchers has many collective nouns, including an "outfield", "swatting", "zapper", and "zipper" of flycatchers.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

Range Map for Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: Large flycatcher with boldly streaked olive-brown upperparts and pale yellow underparts with dark brown streaks. Eyestripes are thick and black with white borders. The wings are dark and edged with white. Tail is rust-brown. Slow fluttering flight with shallow wing beats.

● Song: "tre-le-re-re"

● Foraging & Feeding: Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: Feeds on insects caught in the air; also eats small fruits and berries. Often sits on perch high in a treetop to spot prey, and then hawks it in flight.

● Breeding & nesting: Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: Two to four white to buff eggs with red brown and lavender spots are laid in a nest made of stems, pine needles, and leaves built in a natural cavity in a large sycamore, usually 20 to 50 feet above the ground. Incubation ranges from 15 to 16 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: Other North American flycatchers lack streaked plumage.

Flight Pattern

Slow flight with shallow wing beats., Sallies from perch to catch insects in the air., Hovers, dips for prey.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher: Native of Mexico and Central America, but also breeds in the Huachuca Mountains of Arizona. Preferred habitats include sycamore trees in deep canyons from 5,000 to 7,500 feet elevation.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^PopulationFairly common, but local

^MigrationMigratory

^Weight1.6 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America