| |
 |
 |
|
Flycatcher
Birds
»
Description: Rather elegant slim upright profile. Mouse-brown
upperparts and pale, lightly streaked below. Sexes similar.
Makes dashes after flying insects, often returning to
the same perch.
»
Habitat: Woodland, parks and gardens.
»
Size: 14 cm (5.5")
|
|
With 425 tyrannids, there are more species of Tyrant Flycatchers than
in any other family of birds in the world. It is therefore impossible
to present more than a short overview. Tyrant Flycatchers are entirely
New World birds ranging throughout most habitats in North and South
America. Most North American species, like this Gray Flycatcher (left),
are migratory and move south to milder climates in the winter. Conversely,
many flycatchers in southern South America move north toward the equator
in the austral winter. Most of the tropical tyrannids are resident.
Flycatchers are quite variable is size and color. A good many, like
the Gray Flycatcher, are small and dull but there are numerous examples
of big and bright birds like the Great Kiskadee. The Great Kiskadee
has a huge range in the tropics -- running from the southern tip of
Texas through Central America down to northern Argentina -- but many
of these flycatchers have small or isolated ranges. Both the Gray
Flycatcher and Great Kiskadee are related to similar species than
can cause birders field identification problems. Indeed, sorting out
the identification of New World flycatchers is amongst the more complex
problems confronting the field observer. |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
| Bird rescue & bird adoption;
parrot refuge/rescue & placement for unwanted birds. |
 |
|
 |
| Check out our list of local
birds broken down by your state and different types of
species. |
|
|
 |
| Migrating birds stay on track
because of chemical reactions in their bodies that are
influenced by the Earth's magnetic field... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Part
I
March
3, 2006