Myiarchus apicalis
The Apical Flycatcher (Myiarchus apicalis) is a medium-sized tyrant flycatcher, typically measuring 7.5-8.5 inches (19-22 cm) in length with a wingspan of 12-13 inches (30-33 cm) and weighing 28-35 grams. It exhibits a dull olive-gray back, a prominent rufous coloration in the inner webs of its tail feathers and primaries, and a pale whitish throat and breast that transitions to a sulfur-yellow belly. Key identification marks include a slight, often subtly raised crest, a dark bill, and the d...
Primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid deciduous woodlands, riparian corridors, and open pine-oak forests, often at moderate elevations ranging from 500 to 2000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide variety of flying insects such as flies, bees, wasps, beetles, and moths, supplemented with small amounts of berries and fruits, especially during migration and winter when insects are less abundant.
Diurnal and highly active, Apical Flycatchers often perch conspicuously on snags or outer branches, surveying their surroundings, and typically roost solitarily or in pairs within dense canopy foliage at night. An agile aerial insectivore, it primarily forages by "sallying"—darting from an expose...
The Apical Flycatcher breeds across the southwestern United States, primarily in riparian zones of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and western Texas, extending south through much of Mexico. Its breeding range encompasses diverse elevations, from arid lowland river bottoms up to 200...
Least Concern
- The Apical Flycatcher is a master of aerial insect hawking, capable of snatching insects mid-flight with remarkable agility. - Its scientific name "apicalis" refers to the prominent rufous (rusty-red) color at the tips or apex of its tail feathers, a key identification mark. - Like many Myiarch...