Stolid Flycatcher

Overview

The Myiarchus stolidus is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, known as the tyrant flycatchers. It is a year-round resident found on the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola and Jamaica, assessed by the IUCN as being of Least Concern.

Identification

• Adults are 20 cm long and weigh 19 to 26 g, with similar plumage in both sexes.
• The nominate subspecies features an olive-green crown with a small crest, a dark gray face, and olive-green upperparts with brown wings showing two clear wing bars.
• The throat and breast are pale ashen gray, contrasting with a yellow belly and undertail coverts.
• The song is described as a 'rolling whee-ee-ee, swee-ip, bzzrt', with a 'plaintive jui' also heard on Hispaniola.

Habitat

The species is endemic to the tropical zones of Jamaica and Hispaniola (the Dominican Republic and Haiti). It inhabits the interior and edges of lowland forest, drier woodlands, scrublands, mangroves, and on Hispaniola, pine forest, ranging from sea level to 1,800 m but less frequently at higher elevations.

Diet

The stolid flycatcher feeds on insects and fruits. It typically forages by snatching prey and fruit from vegetation while briefly hovering after a sally from a perch.

Did you know?

The bird is adaptable enough to nest not just in tree cavities but also in human structures such as houses. Its population is believed to be decreasing due to continuing habitat loss from causes including hurricane damage, pesticide use, and urbanisation.