MYIARCHUS FLYCATCHERS

I've mentioned what a challenge identifying Empidonax flycatchers is. Howell describes the Myiarchus Flycatchers as "a major identification problem, perhaps more so than the dreaded Empidonax." Myiarchus Flycatchers are especially hard to nail down in the Yucatan because four look-alike species live here, one of those four being eastern North America's Great Crested Flycatcher, who is a winter resident. All four species are similar to the individual shown at the right.

Their oversized heads slightly crested toward the back, mousy gray above but with varying amounts of rusty-redness in the wings and tail, yellowish bellies, bills blackish but usually with a pale area at the base or below... All four fit that description. They do have different voices, but nowadays ours aren't calling. So, what's that in the picture?

The rusty-red color limited to the outer wing feathers, the unusually pale yellow belly, the limited pale area at the base of the fairly large bill and the whiter-than-most throat area all point me toward the Brown-crested Flycatcher, MYIARCHUS TYRANNULUS, known to be quite common here.