Flycatcher is the name of several groups of birds that catch insects in the air. Flycatchers perch quietly until an insect flies past. Then they dart out quickly and seize their prey. The birds close their bills with a sharp, clicking sound. Flycatchers live throughout the world. Those found in North and South America are known as tyrant flycatchers.
Flycatchers have a wide range of calls and songs, both musical and harsh. The loud call of the great-crested flycatcher sounds like “wheep” or “creep.” The noisy sulfur-bellied flycatcher calls “kip, kip, kip, squeelya, squeelya.” The nesting habits of these birds also vary greatly. Some nest in holes in trees. Others build nests of mud or of plant materials.
Loading the player...Scissor-tailed flycatcher
Most American flycatchers live in wooded regions with warm, tropical climates. They are generally dull in color, ranging from brown or gray to olive-green above and white to yellow below. Their wide bills help the birds catch flying insects. Some species have a crest at the top of the head. The tail usually ends in the shape of a square or a shallow fork.
Acadian flycatcher
Nearly 35 species of flycatchers live in the United States. One species, the vermilion flycatcher, is dark brown above and bright red on the head and underparts. It is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long. This bird makes its nest of twigs and grasses bound with spider webs. It lives in woodlands, grasslands, and desert areas from the southern United States to Argentina. The scissor-tailed flycatcher measures 13 inches (33 centimeters) in length. It has a long, deeply forked tail. The head and throat are silvery-gray, the underparts are salmon-colored, and the wings and tail are black. This bird ranges from the central part of the United States to Central America. Other species found in the United States include the Acadian, alder, and yellow-bellied flycatchers. Kingbirds, phoebes, and wood pewees also are in the family of American flycatchers.
