Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher

Myiodynastes luteiventrisOrder: PASSERIFORMES Family: Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)

Codes: Common Name: SBFL Scientific Name: MYILUT ITIS Taxonomic No.: 178305

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Overview

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.

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.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

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.

Bird Term Glossary

Author

Gary Owen Dick

Artist

Kavita Jhunjhunwala

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

● 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

Perching-like Body

Underparts

Belly, undertail coverts, chest, flanks, and foreneck.

Upperparts

Back, rump, hindneck, wings, and crown.

Crest

Tufts of feathers on the head of the bird.

Crown

The crown is the top part of the birds head.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America