Northern Tufted Flycatcher
Mitrephanes phaeocercus
The Northern Tufted Flycatcher (Mitrephanes phaeocercus) is a uncommon tyrant flycatcher found in 10 countries, weighing about 9 g. The northern tufted flycatcher or simply tufted flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family.










About the Northern Tufted Flycatcher
The northern tufted flycatcher or simply tufted flycatcher is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It is found from Mexico to Ecuador.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The northern tufted flycatcher is 12 to 13.5 cm (4.7 to 5.3 in) long and weighs about 8.5 g (0.30 oz). The sexes have the same plumage and all subspecies have an erect pointed crest. Adults of the nominate subspecies M. p. phaeocercus have a brown-tinged olive crown, a pale spot above the lores, and a thin buff-white eye-ring on an otherwise cinnamon face. Their upperparts are brownish with an olive tinge. Their wings are dusky with buff ends on the coverts that show as two wing bars. They have whitish or pale yellow edges on their tertials. Their tail is dusky. Voice: The northern tufted flycatcher's dawn song is "a rapid series of high notes bip-bip-bip-dididi-up-bip-bip-bibibiseer". It also sings "single or repeated tchwee or turee notes" and in the breeding season "seeeu or seer". Its call is pik or beek".
What the Northern Tufted Flycatcher sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.
When to see it
The Northern Tufted Flycatcher can be seen all year round, with peak activity in March. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Northern Tufted Flycatcher?
- The northern tufted flycatcher is 12 to 13.5 cm (4.7 to 5.3 in) long and weighs about 8.5 g (0.30 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Northern Tufted Flycatcher?
- The Northern Tufted Flycatcher is a tiny sized bird weighing about 9 g.
- Where can you see a Northern Tufted Flycatcher?
- The Northern Tufted Flycatcher occurs in 10 countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama and Colombia.
- What does a Northern Tufted Flycatcher sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Northern Tufted Flycatcher on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Northern Tufted Flycatcher?
- The Northern Tufted Flycatcher is most easily confused with the Olive Tufted Flycatcher.
- Is the Northern Tufted Flycatcher endangered?
- The Northern Tufted Flycatcher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Northern Tufted Flycatcher for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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