# Flycatcher (*Tyrannus*) Flycatchers are small birds known for their quick movements and aerial acrobatics. They have sharp beaks to catch flying insects mid-air. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests, Wetlands - **Also known as:** Kingbird ![Flycatcher](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426248/objects/6092.jpg) ## Appearance The Flycatcher is a small to medium-sized bird, typically with a sleek body and a noticeable broad, flat bill. Many species exhibit subtle plumage in shades of grey, olive, or brown, often with lighter undersides and sometimes a prominent eye-ring. Its distinctive bill is perfectly shaped for catching insects in flight. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Tyrannidae - **Genus:** Tyrannus ## Interesting facts - A single flycatcher can gobble up hundreds of mosquitoes and flies in just one day! - Flycatcher nests are often cleverly camouflaged with moss or lichen, blending into trees! - Many species get their 'tyrant' name from their fearless defense of their nests! - Some flycatchers travel thousands of miles from North to South America every year! ## Special abilities - **Acrobatic Hunter:** Flycatcher can perform mid-air acrobatics to snatch flying insects because of their agile wings and precise vision. - **Sharp Vision:** Flycatcher has exceptionally keen eyesight that helps them spot tiny insects from a distance, even in dense foliage. - **Broad Bill Net:** The Flycatcher has a wide, flattened bill fringed with bristles that helps them scoop up insects in flight like a net. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 13-23 cm - **Wingspan:** 25-40 cm - **Weight:** 0.015-0.06 kg - **Lifespan:** 3-7 years - **Speed:** 45 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-6 - **Incubation:** 12-16 days - **Migration Distance:** 8000 km ## Diet & Feeding Tiny airborne insects are their main snack, but they sometimes eat berries too! - **Primary Foods:** flies, mosquitoes, beetles, grasshoppers, moths, berries - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Catches these common flies mid-air for food. - **Eaten by:** [American Kestrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-kestrel) (*Falco sparverius*) — A small falcon that preys on flycatchers. - **Shelter:** [Red Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-maple) (*Acer rubrum*) — Nests and perches in the canopy of these trees. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching flycatchers from a safe distance to avoid disturbing their natural behavior. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Flycatcher? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Flycatcher? 13-23 cm ### What is Flycatcher's wingspan? 25-40 cm ### How much does Flycatcher weigh? 0.015-0.06 kg ### How long does Flycatcher live? 3-7 years ### How fast can Flycatcher move? 45 km/h ### What does Flycatcher eat? Tiny airborne insects are their main snack, but they sometimes eat berries too! ### Where is Flycatcher usually found? Forests, Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Flycatcher: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flycatcher)