Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
The male performs a spectacular courtship display, puffing his feathers and fluttering upward while singing before diving back to his perch.
- Scientific name
- Pyrocephalus rubinus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Passeriformes › Tyrannidae › Pyrocephalus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Open country, desert scrub, riparian woodlands, and suburban parks.
- Diet
- Insects such as flies, beetles, bees, and grasshoppers.
- Range
- Southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, South America
- Size
- 13-14 cm in length; weight 11-14 grams.
- Lifespan
- 4-5 years in the wild.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss due to development, pesticide use reducing prey availability, and nest parasitism by cowbirds.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to humans. These birds are sensitive to disturbance during nesting; maintain a distance of at least 15 feet. Observe with binoculars to enjoy their vibrant plumage without causing stress.
The scarlet flycatcher or austral vermilion flycatcher ( Pyrocephalus rubinus ) is a species of flycatcher, closely related to the vermilion flycatcher. It is found in southeastern Bolivia and Brazil, Paraguay to Argentina and Uruguay. It is recognized as a species by some taxonomic authorities, including the International Ornithologists' Union. Others still consider it to be a subspecies of the vermilion flycatcher.
Photo: Ken-ichi Ueda, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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