Nutting's Flycatcher

Overview

Nutting's flycatcher (Myiarchus nuttingi) is a passerine bird belonging to the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found across a wide range from Mexico to Costa Rica.

Identification

• Measures 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) in length and weighs approximately 21 to 24 g.
• Adults feature a drab gray-brown crown with a slight crest, paler gray face, and upperparts with a rufescent tinge on the uppertail coverts.
• The throat and breast are gray, contrasting with a yellow belly and undertail coverts.
• Possesses a dark iris, a dark bill, and dark legs and feet.

Habitat

Inhabits forest and scrublands within tropical and lower subtropical zones, including tropical deciduous forest, gallery forest, and both virgin and second-growth arid scrub. The species ranges from sea level up to 1,800 m (5,900 ft), though its elevation is limited to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in Costa Rica.

Diet

Feeds primarily on insects and berries, typically foraging within the forest understory to the mid-story among the foliage. It captures prey by snatching it while briefly hovering after a sally from a perch, though it occasionally catches insects in mid-air.

Did you know?

The nest is constructed from an unusual assortment of fur, feathers, plant material, and snake skin.