Flycatchers- ORDER: Passeriformes
- FAMILY: Tyrannidae
Basic Description
A feathered ember in a desert landscape, the male Vermilion Flycatcher is exactly what its name says: a brilliant red bird that hawks flying insects from conspicuous perches on shrub tops and fences. Females are delightful in their own way, subtle gray-brown birds with a warm salmon-red blush to the underparts. Though they barely reach the southwestern U.S., this species is common all the way through Central America and much of South America. Watch for the male's high, fluttering flight display and listen for his twittering display song.
More ID InfoFind This Bird
Vermilion Flycatchers are small but brightly colored, with a habit of sitting on exposed perches often within about 10 feet of the ground. This makes them fairly easy to spot in their open country habitat. Watch for them especially in insect-rich places such as the edges of wetlands or along stream corridors in otherwise dry country. In the U.S. they are best known and fairly common in the Southwest, but smaller numbers also spend winters along the Gulf Coast.
Other Names
- Mosquero Cardenal (Spanish)
- Moucherolle vermillon (French)