Dusky-capped Flycatcher

Overview

The dusky-capped flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) is a passerine bird belonging to the tyrant flycatcher family. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with an estimated population of at least 20 million mature individuals.

Identification

• Measures 16 to 18.5 cm in length and weighs between 14 and 27 g.
• The nominate subspecies features a sooty brown crown and face with a slight crest, dark greenish olive-brown upperparts, and a gray throat and breast.
• All subspecies possess a dark brown iris, a black bill with a lighter base, and black legs and feet.

Habitat

This species inhabits a wide variety of landscapes, including riparian woodlands, pine-oak forests, thorn scrub, and tropical evergreen or deciduous forests. Its range extends from the United States and Mexico through Central America to South America, excluding Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Diet

The bird feeds on insects and berries, typically foraging singly or in pairs, though it often joins mixed-species feeding flocks in Mexico and South America. It captures prey by making short sallies from a perch, occasionally hovering to take insects from vegetation or mid-air.

Did you know?

The species' taxonomy is complex, with at least seven separate species having previously been included as its subspecies, and plumage and vocalisation similarities still sort the 13 recognised subspecies into various groups.