Bran-colored Flycatcher

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Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Tyrannidae
Genus:	Myiophobus
Species:	M. fasciatus

Binomial name

Myiophobus fasciatus
(Muller, 1776)

The Bran-colored Flycatcher, Myiophobus fasciatus, is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It breeds from Costa Rica through South America to Bolivia, Uruguay, and Argentina. It also occurs on Trinidad.

This species is found in open forests and secondary growth. The deep cup nest is made of stems and bark and lined with fine plant fibres; it is suspeneded by the rim from a side branch low in a tree. The typical clutch is two cream-coloured eggs with a rufous wreath. The female incubates for 17 days with a further 15-17 to fledging. This species is parasitised by the Shiny Cowbird.

The adult Bran-colored Flycatcher is 12.7 cm long and weighs 10.5g. The head and upperparts are dark reddish brown and the crown has a concealed yellow crest, which is erected by excited adults. There are two pale buff wing bars and the underparts are whitish shading to pale yellow on the belly and with dark streaking on the breast and flanks. The bill is black above and brown below. Sexes are similar, but young birds lack the crown patch.

Bran-colored Flycatcher are solitary unobtrusive birds, sometimes difficult to see as they move rapidly through the undergrowth in search of small insects and berries. They have a whistled chep, chewee call.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2004). Myiophobus fasciatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 10 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, 2nd edition, Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2.
Hilty, Steven L (2003). Birds of Venezuela. London: Christopher Helm. ISBN 0-7136-6418-5.
A guide to the birds of Costa Rica by Stiles and Skutch ISBN 0-8014-9600-4