Boat-billed Flycatcher - BirdForum Opus

Megarynchus pitangua

Photo by Steve G
Location: the Asa Wright Centre Trinidad.

Identification

Superficially very similar to the Great Kiskadee in size & colouration but with a totally different call. This species has less rufous on the wings and tail as well as a less prominent crownstripe. None of these characteristics stand out in the field, and the best diagnostic feature is the large wide bulky bill with a prominent convex culmen.

Distribution

Mexico through Central America and South America to Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia.

Taxonomy

Six subspecies are recognized¹: pitangua, tardiusculus, canisceps, mexicanus, and chrysogaster.

Behaviour

Boat-bills hunt large insects -especially Cicadas

Vocalisation

Boat-billed Flycatcher with Channel-billed Toucans <flashmp3> Boat Billed Flycatcher Channel Billed Toucans Regua 09h37m44s16sep2008.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

Recording by Andrew Whitehouse

References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

External Links

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