Panama Flycatcher

Overview

The Panama flycatcher (Myiarchus panamensis) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae found across Central and northern South America. It is generally considered a year-round resident in its range, which spans from Costa Rica to Venezuela, though some elevational movement is suspected in Colombia.

Identification

• Measures 19 to 20 cm in length with a weight of 28 to 38.5 g, featuring a grayish olive crown with a slight crest and streaked effect.
• Displays gray face, throat, and breast with a yellow belly and greenish wash on the upper flanks; adults possess a dark bill often with a paler base to the mandible and dark legs.
• Dawn song consists of isolated, short, slowly modulated whistles given every 2–3 seconds, while daytime calls include repeated hiccups and rasping whistles in response to intruders.

Habitat

The species inhabits tropical deciduous and gallery forests, mangroves, and open habitats such as woodlands and pastures with scattered shrubs. Its range covers Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, extending from sea level to 1,400 m in elevation.

Diet

Feeds on insects and small fruit by sallies from a perch to catch prey in mid-air or snatching items from vegetation. In open areas it runs along the ground, while in mangroves it forages among the roots and sallies up to take prey.

Did you know?

The bird constructs its bulky nest using an eclectic mix of materials including rootlets, plant down, animal hair, and snake skin.