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<br>Locality: Ayampe, Manabi Prov, Ecuador.]] | <br>Locality: Ayampe, Manabi Prov, Ecuador.]] | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
− | + | L. 14 cm (5½ in).<br/> | |
− | + | Strongly sexually dimorphic. Male is unmistakable. | |
+ | ====Male==== | ||
+ | *Bright red underparts and cap | ||
+ | *Dark brownish wings, tail and mask | ||
+ | ====Female==== | ||
+ | *Dull brownish or greyish upperparts | ||
+ | *Dark streaked whitish underparts | ||
+ | *Some species have pinkish or yellow flanks and/or crissum | ||
+ | ====Immature==== | ||
+ | Resembles female | ||
[[Image:Juvenile Vermilion Flycatcher.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Photo by bobsofpa | [[Image:Juvenile Vermilion Flycatcher.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Photo by bobsofpa | ||
<br>Juvenile in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA.]] | <br>Juvenile in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA.]] | ||
− | == | + | ===Subspecies=== |
− | + | Females from Galápagos have virtually unstreaked, yellow underparts.<br/> | |
+ | |||
+ | Both sexes of race ''obscurus'' (from coastal Peru) also occur in a uniformly dark brown morph. [[Image:Vermilion Flycatcher dark morph.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Photo by Mariano Mavila | ||
+ | <br>Dark morph in Lima, Peru.]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Similar Species=== | ||
+ | Females and immatures are potentially confusing, but can be separated from most other superficially similar species (e.g. [[Bran-colored Flycatcher]]) by the faint or complete lack of wing-bars. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
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Occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, incl. savanna, forest-edge, woodland, scrub, areas with scattered trees. Also in rural zones and city parks or gardens. | Occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, incl. savanna, forest-edge, woodland, scrub, areas with scattered trees. Also in rural zones and city parks or gardens. | ||
− | |||
− | |||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
− | Feeds on small insects and spiders. It perches on an open branch, waiting for the prey. After locating it, the flycatcher pursues and capture it in flight. The courtship display of the male involves singing, raising its crest, fluffing its breast-feathers, and, sometimes, delivering a butterfly or showy insect to the female to initiate copulation. Breeding is seasonal, but timing varies depending on region. The nest is an open cup loosely constructed by moss, grass, twigs and spiderwebs. The 2-3 eggs are incubated entirely by the female, but both sexes feed the chicks. | + | ====Diet==== |
+ | Feeds on small insects and spiders. It perches on an open branch, waiting for the prey. After locating it, the flycatcher pursues and capture it in flight. The courtship display of the male involves singing, raising its crest, fluffing its breast-feathers, and, sometimes, delivering a butterfly or showy insect to the female to initiate copulation. | ||
+ | ====Breeding==== | ||
+ | Breeding is seasonal, but timing varies depending on region. The nest is an open cup loosely constructed by moss, grass, twigs and spiderwebs. The 2-3 eggs are incubated entirely by the female, but both sexes feed the chicks. | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== |
Revision as of 23:14, 26 January 2008
- Pyrocephalus rubinus
Description
L. 14 cm (5½ in).
Strongly sexually dimorphic. Male is unmistakable.
Male
- Bright red underparts and cap
- Dark brownish wings, tail and mask
Female
- Dull brownish or greyish upperparts
- Dark streaked whitish underparts
- Some species have pinkish or yellow flanks and/or crissum
Immature
Resembles female
Subspecies
Females from Galápagos have virtually unstreaked, yellow underparts.
Both sexes of race obscurus (from coastal Peru) also occur in a uniformly dark brown morph.
Similar Species
Females and immatures are potentially confusing, but can be separated from most other superficially similar species (e.g. Bran-colored Flycatcher) by the faint or complete lack of wing-bars.
Distribution
It is widespread and generally common in most of central and northern South America, Central America, Mexico and southwestern United States. Typically resident, but a large proportion of the population from the southernmost part of its range migrate north to spend the Austral winter in central South America. Additionally, most of the population in USA migrate south to spend the winter in Central America.
Habitat
Occurs in a wide range of open or semi-open habitats, incl. savanna, forest-edge, woodland, scrub, areas with scattered trees. Also in rural zones and city parks or gardens.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on small insects and spiders. It perches on an open branch, waiting for the prey. After locating it, the flycatcher pursues and capture it in flight. The courtship display of the male involves singing, raising its crest, fluffing its breast-feathers, and, sometimes, delivering a butterfly or showy insect to the female to initiate copulation.
Breeding
Breeding is seasonal, but timing varies depending on region. The nest is an open cup loosely constructed by moss, grass, twigs and spiderwebs. The 2-3 eggs are incubated entirely by the female, but both sexes feed the chicks.
Taxonomy
Order: Passeriformes -> Family: Tyrannidae -> Genus: Pyrocephalus -> Species: P. rubinus
Numerous subspecies are known. It has been suggested that the two Galápagos races, nanus and dubius, should be considered one or two separate species.