Myiarchus ferox
The Short-crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus ferox) is a medium-sized Neotropical tyrant flycatcher, typically measuring 19-21 cm (7.5-8.3 inches) in length with a weight ranging from 25-35 grams. Its plumage is characterized by an olive-brown back, a dusky head often appearing slightly crested (though not prominently so), grayish throat and breast, and a pale yellow belly, frequently with rufous on the inner webs of the tail feathers and wing edgings, which are critical field marks for identifica...
This adaptable flycatcher inhabits a variety of lowland and foothill ecosystems, primarily found in humid to semi-arid tropical and subtropical forests, woodlands, forest edges, clearings with scattered trees, savannas, and gallery forests. It prefers areas with good tree cover but can also be fo...
Its diet consists predominantly of insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, moths, and other arthropods, which it captures by sallying and gleaning. It occasionally supplements its insectivorous diet with small fruits or berries.
Short-crested Flycatchers are typically solitary or found in pairs, maintaining territories year-round. They are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging from exposed perches. Their primary foraging strategy involves sallying, where they dart out from a perch to snatch flying insects in mid...
The Short-crested Flycatcher boasts an expansive Neotropical distribution, primarily across South America. Its breeding and year-round range extends from eastern Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas, south through much of the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, reaching into Parag...
Least Concern
- The 'short crest' in its name is often barely discernible, making it a subtle and easily overlooked field mark. - Identification of Myiarchus flycatchers like M. ferox often relies more heavily on their distinct vocalizations than on visual cues, even for experienced birders. - Like many Myiarc...