Swainson's Flycatcher
Myiarchus swainsoni
The Swainson's Flycatcher (Myiarchus swainsoni) is a uncommon tyrant flycatcher found in 12 countries, weighing about 25 g. Swainson's flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.
About the Swainson's Flycatcher
Swainson's flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile and French Guiana and as a vagrant to Aruba and Trinidad.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Swainson's flycatcher is 19.5 to 21 cm (7.7 to 8.3 in) long and weighs about 21 to 38 g (0.74 to 1.3 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dull olive gray-green crown and upperparts with slightly browner uppertail coverts. The crown feathers form a slight crest. Their wings are mostly brown with rufous outer edges on the primaries. The secondaries and tertials have pale whitish yellow outermost webs and the tertials dirty white to rufous innermost webs. Their greater and median wing coverts have wide fuscous gray tips. Their tail is brown. Voice: The dawn song of Swainson's flycatcher is "alternated mournful whistles, huit notes and more complex phrases". Its typical call is also a mournful whistle.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in French Guiana.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a winter visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Swainson's Flycatcher?
- Swainson's flycatcher is 19.5 to 21 cm (7.7 to 8.3 in) long and weighs about 21 to 38 g (0.74 to 1.3 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Swainson's Flycatcher?
- The Swainson's Flycatcher is a small sized bird weighing about 25 g.
- Where can you see a Swainson's Flycatcher?
- The Swainson's Flycatcher occurs in 12 countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Peru.
- What birds look similar to a Swainson's Flycatcher?
- The Swainson's Flycatcher is most easily confused with the Pale-edged Flycatcher, the Puerto Rican Flycatcher and the Panama Flycatcher.
- Is the Swainson's Flycatcher endangered?
- The Swainson's Flycatcher is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Swainson's Flycatcher for real
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