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PIRATIC FLYCATCHER  Legatus leucophaius 15–17cm. Medium-size, small-

billed flycatcher of semi-open country and clearings with taller trees, forest

edge, gallery forest, plantations, Steals and uses the nests of other species, espe-

cially becards and oropendolas, hence ‘piratic.’ Perches conspicuously in cano-

py, where may vocalize tirelessly. Distinctive, with stubby bill, dark mask,

blurry streaking below; yellow crown patch usually concealed. Juv. has cinna­

mon wing and tail edgings. SOUNDS: Loud ringing whistle, often followed by 1

or more short twitters, often over and over, Sweée, di-di-dit,…STATUS: Fairly

common to uncommon breeding migrant on both slopes, locally to 1800m;

arrives Jan–Feb, departs Sep, with stragglers into Oct. (Breeds Mexico to S

America, winters S America.)

GENUS MYIODYNASTES

(3 species). Large, heavy-billed flycatchers with bold head patterns,

dark whisker marks; nest in tree cavities, crannies amid epiphytes. Often at fruiting trees, especially

in migration.

GOLDEN-BELLIED FLYCATCHER  Myiodynastes hemichrysus 19–21cm.

Humid foothill and highland forest and edge, especially at light gaps and along

streams. Mainly at mid–upper levels, often perched on mossy snags, sometimes

on power lines. Note large size, boldly striped head with diagnostic dark

whisker, yellow underparts; cf. kiskadees and similar species. Juv. has browner

upperparts, cinnamon wing and tail edgings. SOUNDS:  Variably explosive,

overslurred nasal skweíh! often repeated steadily; rarely short excited series,

skweizih-skwei-izih...; quality recalls Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher. Dawn song

a clear, melodious tree-le-loo, repeated steadily (Stiles & Skutch 1989).

STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on Caribbean slope, 700–1800m, locally on cen. Pacific slope,

1400–2300m. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

SULPHUR-BELLIED FLYCATCHER  Myiodynastes luteiventris 19–21cm.

Lowland and foothill forest and edge, gallery forest, semi-open country with

taller trees, forest patches. Mainly at mid–upper levels, often hidden in leafy

canopy. Note broad black mustaches meeting under bill, coarse breast streaking,

whitish face stripes vs. yellowish belly, voice; yellow crown patch usually con­

cealed. Juv. has pinkish bill base, cinnamon wing and tail edgings, cf. Northern

Streaked Flycatcher. SOUNDS:  High, piercing skweeízik, suggesting a child’s

squeezy toy; excited sneezy chatters. Song a fairly quick, rolled tcheu-wheézilit,…

about every 2 secs. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common breeding migrant

Mar–Sep on both slopes, locally to 2100m; widespread transient, mid-Feb to Apr, late Aug–Oct, stragglers

into Nov. (Breeds Mexico to Costa Rica, winters S America.)

*NORTHERN STREAKED FLYCATCHER  Myiodynastes maculatus 20–22cm.

Lowland forest, adjacent clearings with taller trees, gallery forest, mangroves;

more widely in migration, when rarely in small loose groups. Mainly at mid–

upper levels. Slightly bulkier and bigger-billed than Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher,

with pale bill base, pale chin, finer streaking below extending to undertail

coverts (cf. Sulphur-bellied), yellow-tinged face but whiter belly; also note voice.

Yellow crown patch usually concealed. Juv. has pinkish bill base, cinna­mon wing

and tail edgings. SOUNDS: Sharp clucking bihk! and full-bodied, downslurred

h’chew; both can be repeated steadily and run into excited chatters. Dawn song

a rich, whistled, rippling wheé-didl-i-eu,…every 2–3 secs. STATUS: Fairly common on Pacific slope, locally

to 1500m; less numerous in winter, especially in nw. lowlands. More widespread in migration, mainly

Feb–Apr, Aug–Sep, when scarce on Caribbean slope. (Breeds Mexico to n. S America, winters Costa Rica

to S America.)