Sulphury Flycatcher

Overview

The sulphury flycatcher (Tyrannopsis sulphurea) is a passerine bird belonging to the tyrant flycatcher family, Tyrannidae. It is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, with a stable population across its extensive range.

Identification

• Size approximately 19 to 20 cm long with a weight of 48 to 61 g.
• Plumage features a dusky head with a hidden orange-yellow crown patch, dull olive-brown upperparts, and bright yellow underparts.
• Distinctive markings include a blackish band from the lores to the ear coverts and an indistinct whitish supercilium.
• Song described as high-pitched, penetrating trills or shrill, buzzy calls often delivered in duet.

Habitat

Primarily a bird of the Amazon Basin and the Guiana Shield, including Trinidad, it is found from sea level up to 1,200 m in some regions. It is almost exclusively associated with moriche palms, inhabiting swampy forests, savannas, and cultivated areas.

Diet

The species feeds primarily on insects and some fruit, including Cecropia and Virola. It typically forages singly or in pairs, capturing flying prey with sallies from trees and hovering to take fruit.

Did you know?

Originally described as Muscicapa sulphurea, the bird was erroneously classified as an Old World flycatcher before Robert Ridgway erected its own genus in 1905.