ID Keys: Strong light and dark head stripes, rufous-colored tail,
dark above with barring and markings, light below with streaks on
the breast, stout long bill
The
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is a unique tropical flycatcher species with a
breeding range that just crosses into the United States in southeastern
Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. They are unique in both plumage
and structure, with a more compact structure and thicker bill than most
flycatchers, and with a unique, very obvious plumage pattern. They are
long-distance migrants, with birds only found in the United States during
the summer breeding season. Even birds that breed in Mexico and
Central America move to South America for the winter.
Habitat
In the U.S. portion of its range, the
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher is mostly found in wooded, riparian canyons,
especially those where sycamores and other tall trees are found. In
the rest of their tropical range, they can be found in a variety of woodland
habitats.
Diet
Feeds on insects and other small
invertebrates. They will also sometimes eat fruits and berries.
Behavior
Forages by observing from a high perch,
and flying out to capture flying insects in mid-air. They will also
sometimes hover briefly while gleaning insects from vegetation.
Nesting
The nest of a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
is in a cavity in a tree, either a natural cavity or an old woodpecker hole.
The nesting cavity is filled with strips of bark and smalls sticks, and
topped with finer material such as pine needles or grass stems.
The female lays 3 or 4 eggs, and she alone incubates them. When the
eggs hatch, both parents help feed the young. The young fledge at
about 18 days.
Song
Has a variety of calls, including a
low-pitched ket call that is often given in a repetitive series,
and a series of strong squeaky whistles that sounds like a harsh children's
squeaky toy.
Migration
Strongly migratory, Sulphur-bellied
Flycatchers that breed in North America migrate to South America for the
winter.
Distinctive, unlikely to be confused with another species in its North
American range. Perhaps the
Piratic Flycatcher is the bird most likely to be confused with the
Sulphur-bellied, but the Piratic Flycatcher is but a rare visitor to the
United States.
