- Pyrocephalus rubinus
Description
The male has bright red underparts and cap and dark brownish wings, tail and mask. The female is dull brownish or greyish above with dark-streaked whitish underparts and pinkish or yellow flanks and/or crissum, showing the accentuated sexual dimorphism. Females from Galápagos have virtually unstreaked, yellow underparts. Both sexes of race obscurus (from coastal Peru) also occur in a uniformly dark brown morph. The immature resemble the female.
Identification
The male is unmistakable. Females and immatures are potentially more 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.
Habitat
Occurs in a wide range of open habitats, incl. savanna, forest-edge, open woodland, areas with scattered trees. Also in rural zones and city outskirts, in bushes and waterside trees.
Behaviour
It perches on an open branch, waiting for the prey. After locating it, the flycatcher pursues and capture it in flight. In breeding season, the male Vermilion Flycatcher often delivers the female a butterfly or a showy insect to initiate copulation.
Taxonomy
Numerous subspecies are known. It has been suggested that the two Galápagos races, nanus and dubius, should be considered one or two separate species.
