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GENUS MYIARCHUS
(6 species). Medium-size to rather large flycatchers of wooded and scrubby
habitats; nest in tree cavities. Raise bushy crest and puff out throat when agitated or curious (as in
response to pygmy owls), slowly jerking head back and forth. Often at fruiting trees, especially in winter.
ID often best made by voice (a cryptic species was recognized from Middle America as recently as the
2000s). Also note bill size, face pattern, prominence of pale wingbars, extent of rusty edgings on wings.
*NUTTING’S FLYCATCHER Myiarchus nuttingi 18–19cm. Lowland dry
forest and edge, gallery woodland, second growth. May occur alongside Brown-
crested and Salvadoran Flycatchers; best identified by voice. Note brownish face
and blended rusty edgings to secondaries vs. grayer face and abrupt rusty/
whitish break on primary/secondary edgings of Brown-crested. Nutting’s lacks
distinct dark stripe on underside of outer tail feathers of Salvadoran, but tail
pattern similar to Brown-crested. Juv. has extensive rusty wing and tail edgings.
SOUNDS: Overslurred, slightly emphatic whistled wheéh or wheér, less often
wheéh dee; a clipped whiep suggesting Brown-crested but clearer, less emphatic;
a querulous twittering kwirri repeated or run into series; and varied burry chatters. Dawn song a repetition
of bright, whistled phrases, each phrase every 1–2 secs: whiek, wie-dieh, whiek, wie-dih..., and variations.
STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common, to 1200m. (Mexico to nw. Costa Rica.)
*SALVADORAN [NUTTING’S] FLYCATCHER Myiarchus [nuttingi] flavidior
18–19cm. Status uncertain in Costa Rica. Favors brushy open woodland, semi-
open areas with hedgerows. Note distinct dark stripe on underside of outer tail
feathers, brighter yellow belly than Nutting’s and Brown-crested; best identified
by voice. Juv. has extensive rusty wing and tail edgings. SOUNDS: Overslurred,
slightly plaintive wheeéu, suggsting a clipped Dusky-capped Flycatcher, not as
emphatic as Nutting’s and at times with short introductory note, wh’wheeéu; an
overall slightly descending, piping twitter, 1.5–2 secs, whii, pii-pii-.…Dawn
song a measured repetition of whistles and short chips, each phrase every 1.5–
2.5 secs: w’wheeéu, wip, wídit, wheeéu, wídit.…STATUS: May occur in nw. lowlands, as reported by Lanyon
(1961), but presence in Costa Rica considered unconfirmed by Slud (1964) and we have found no
unequivocal record. (Mexico to Nicaragua; and nw. Costa Rica?)
BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus tyrannulus 19–20.5cm. A
relatively small race of this widespread Myiarchus inhabits semi-open and open
country with hedgerows, scrubby woodland, mangroves. Notoriously similar
to Nutting’s Flycatcher (at one time considered conspecific), but note voice;
contrast between rusty and whitish primary/secondary edgings of Brown-
crested (beware, imms. of all Myiarchus have rusty edgings to all flight
feathers); relatively big bill; and grayish face. Also cf. migrant Great Crested
Flycatcher, which prefers more-humid habitats. Juv. has more extensive rusty
wing and tail edgings. SOUNDS: Sharply overslurred, clipped wuík! and
overslurred burry weéhrr, latter sometimes in steady series; varied, rhythmic bickering chatters in
interactions. Dawn song a measured, varied repetition of quiet ‘whip’ notes, burry whistles, and short
burry chatters, each phrase every 1–2 secs: whiep, whi’pi-pi-reer, whip, whip, whee-b-beeihr, rreihr.…
STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon, locally to 1200m; spills over to adjacent n. Caribbean slope.
(Mexico and sw. US to S America.)
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER Myiarchus crinitus 20–21.5cm. Large, rela
tively brightly colored migrant Myiarchus of forested habitats, taller second
growth, plantations. Mainly at mid–upper levels, often well hidden in leafy
canopy. From other Myiarchus by richer coloration, especially dusky gray breast
contrasting with bright yellow belly; also note sharply defined, relatively broad
whitish edging to shortest tertial, dull pinkish base to mandible, voice.
SOUNDS: Upslurred, rich whistled wheeép, ending abruptly with slight downward
inflection; often repeated steadily. STATUS: Fairly common to common Oct–
Mar on Pacific slope, uncommon to fairly common on Caribbean slope, to
1500m; more widespread in migration, late Sep–Oct, late Mar–Apr, to 1800m. (Breeds e. N America,
winters Mexico to nw. S America.)
