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DUSKY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER  Myiarchus tuberculifer 16–17cm. Smallest

Myiarchus, widespread in varied wooded, forested, and semi-open habitats, from

mangroves to foothill forest. Ranges low to high, from overgrown weedy fields to

forest canopy. Best identified by size, dark head (especially crown), dull wingbars

but bright rusty wing edgings, little rusty in tail, voice. Juv. paler below, tail

broadly edged rusty. SOUNDS: Common call a plaintive overslurred wheeeeu,

varied to shorter, more screaming reeeu and burrier wheeer; also a shorter note

followed by rolled whistle, whee peeerrrrr, about 1.5 secs. Dawn song a measured,

varied repetition of overslurred whistles and upslurred wuik notes, each phrase

every 1.5–3 secs: wheeéu, wheeéu, wuik! wheébeeu, wuik! wheeéu.…STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes,

locally to 1200m, in smaller numbers to 1800m. (Mexico and sw. US to S America.)

PANAMA FLYCATCHER  Myiarchus panamensis 18.5–19.5cm. Medium-size,

rather plain Myiarchus of mangroves, ranging rarely to adjacent wooded and

scrubby habitats. Mainly at low to mid-levels inside and at edges of mangroves.

Note lack of rusty in wings and tail, dull wingbars, overall grayish head and

breast, voice. Cf. smaller Northern Scrub Flycatcher (p. 304), often in same

habitat, which has small bill, more distinct wingbars. Juv. plumage (held

briefly) has wings and tail edged bright rusty; mandible can be pale pinkish at

base. SOUNDS: Common call a rolled, slightly nasal, clipped whiéduh; also a

more plaintive wheé-diheu; in agitation, a fairly rapid, slightly ringing series of

(usually 11–17) loud, slightly shrieky, overslurred whistles, 1st note longer, more emphatic, whieh-dee-

dee..., 1.5–2 secs, at times preceded by 1–2 burry downslurred notes; varied, low gruff notes and short

chatters. Dawn song kweea-hurr, kwiheer, kweeahurr repeated in various combinations, the hurr with a

rolling burry quality (Stiles & Skutch 1989). STATUS: Fairly common along Pacific coast n. to Gulf of

Nicoya. (Costa Rica to nw. S America.)

KINGBIRDS (GENUS TYRANNUS) (6+ species). Large conspicuous flycatchers of open and

semi-open country. Ages/sexes differ slightly, like adult in 1st year. Juvs. lack concealed yellow or flame

crown patches, wing coverts fringed pale cinnamon, fading to whitish. Main sex difference is shape of

outer primaries: adult males have narrower, more strongly tapered tips. Many species roost communally

in winter.

*MIDDLE AMERICAN [TROPICAL] KINGBIRD  Tyrannus [melancholicus]

satrapa 21–23cm. Large conspicuous flycatcher of open and semi-open areas,

ranchland, towns, parks, lighter woodland, beach scrub, forest clearings and

edge; often perches on roadside wires, fences. Note big bill, bright yellow belly,

notched tail, cf. migrant Western Kingbird. SOUNDS: Varied twittering trills,

mainly a short till-ill-ill-it, and longer rippling trills that start hesitantly, upslur,

then fall at end. Dawn song a series of hesitant tiks run into 2–4-part twittering

trills, with overall rippling cadence, tk tk tk tk widdle-íwiddli,…and variations

STATUS:  Common to fairly common on both slopes to 1800m, in smaller

numbers locally to 2400m. (Mexico and s. Texas to nw. S America.)

WESTERN KINGBIRD  Tyrannus verticalis 19.5–21cm. Winter migrant to

open and semi-open areas with taller trees, hedges, orchards, scrub, gallery forest,

especially with fruiting trees where may associate with other large flycatchers.

Note relatively small bill, long wings, short black tail with white sides, cf. larger

and brighter Middle American Kingbird. SOUNDS: Clipped, sharply overslurred

bek and querulous chatters, suggesting Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. STATUS: Irregular

Oct–Apr on Pacific slope and inland to Central Valley, to 1200m; fairly common

some years, scarce in others; very rare and sporadic on s. Pacific slope. (Breeds w.

N America to Mexico, winters Mexico to Costa Rica.)