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Revision as of 02:07, 18 May 2007
- Pyrocephalus rubinus
Description
Total length ca. 14 cm (5½ in). Strongly sexually dimorphic. The male has bright red underparts and cap and dark brownish wings, tail and mask. The female has dull brownish or greyish upperparts, dark-streaked whitish underparts and, in some subspecies, pinkish or yellow flanks and/or crissum. 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. 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
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.
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.
