# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/daefc92f-aadb-45d6-a693-906bc143ae69
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/16447
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarlet_flycatcher
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/234371388/medium.jpg (Ken-ichi Ueda, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.