Bird Guide

Piratic Flycatcher

Legatus leucophaius

Least ConcernFruitForestCavity nestSmall · 22 g

About the Piratic Flycatcher

The piratic flycatcher is a passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Mexico, in every Central American country except El Salvador, in Trinidad and Tobago, and in every mainland South American country except Chile, though in Uruguay only as a vagrant. It has also occurred several times as a vagrant in the southern United States.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The piratic flycatcher is 14.5 to 17 cm (5.7 to 6.7 in) long and weighs 19 to 26 g (0.67 to 0.92 oz). The sexes and the subspecies have the same plumage though subspecies L. l. variegatus is significantly larger than the nominate. Adults have a blackish forehead and crown with a partially hidden yellow patch on the latter. They have a wide dull whitish supercilium that extends around the head under the crown; it has some faint grayish streaks toward the rear. They have dusky lores, ear coverts, and moustachial stripe and white cheeks. Voice: The piratic flycatcher is highly vocal during the breeding season, and usually vocalizes from a high perch. Its call has been variously described as wee-o-dee!, "a whining querulous weé-yee", and "a loud, high, rising-falling whistle: wseeEEEeee".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Piratic Flycatcher sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where the Piratic Flycatcher lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States.

When to see the Piratic Flycatcher

Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: American Dusky Flycatcher vs Piratic Flycatcher · Couch's Kingbird vs Piratic Flycatcher · Bright-rumped Attila vs Piratic Flycatcher

Learn the Piratic Flycatcher in BeakBrain

Photo and call practice, free in any browser.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.