Suiriri Flycatcher

Overview

The suiriri flycatcher (Suiriri suiriri) is a medium-sized bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. It is the only member of its genus and is found across South America, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Suriname, and Uruguay.

Identification

• Length of 15 to 16 cm with dark brown iris, a stubby black bill, and black legs and feet.
• Nominate subspecies features a gray crown and nape, gray upperparts, and whitish underparts with a slightly darker breast.
• Subspecies S. s. burmeisteri is larger with olive on the back, a buffy-yellowish rump, and pale yellow belly and crissum.
• Subspecies S. s. bahiae resembles burmeisteri but has a brownish rump.

Habitat

This species inhabits semi-open to open landscapes, including the Gran Chaco dry forest, open woodlands, and dry cerrado savanna. It is a year-round resident in most of its range, though it appears in eastern Bolivia only during the non-breeding season.

Diet

The suiriri flycatcher feeds on arthropods and small fruits. It primarily forages by gleaning from leaves and branches while perched, but occasionally hover-gleans, sallies for insects in flight, or drops to the ground to take prey.

Did you know?

The common name suiriri originates from the Guaraní language, where it serves as a generic term for several medium-sized tyrant flycatchers. Males and females of the burmeisteri subspecies engage in duetting, with females producing loud, squeaky notes that decelerate towards the end.