Flycatcher

Tyrannus

Flycatchers are small birds known for their quick movements and aerial acrobatics. They have sharp beaks to catch flying insects mid-air.

Habitat: Forests, Wetlands

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.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPasseriformesFamilyTyrannidaeGenusTyrannus

Flycatcher

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

Flycatcher can perform mid-air acrobatics to snatch flying insects because of their agile wings and precise vision.

Flycatcher has exceptionally keen eyesight that helps them spot tiny insects from a distance, even in dense foliage.

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
Top 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

Falco sparverius

A small falcon that preys on flycatchers.

shelters

Red Maple

Acer rubrum

Nests and perches in the canopy of these trees.

Traits

Wildlife

Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Aerial

Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

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.