Vermilion Flycatcher

Pyrocephalus rubinus

NatureServe conservation status

Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S1B

• Reason: In Utah this is a rare breeding species in southern Washington County, where only two occurrences with confirmed breeding are known. An occasional individual is present in Utah in winter.

External links

• NatureServe species report
• Google image search
• Google web search

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General information

The vermilion flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus, ranges from the southwestern United States to Argentina. It is not strongly migratory. In Utah, it is a rare summer resident in the southwestern part of the state, rarer there in winter. This species inhabits semi-open arid country, from desert scrub to riparian woodland. It eats almost exclusively insects, especially flying insects, including many bees.

The vermilion flycatcher nests in trees, typically on a horizontal fork six to twenty feet (rarely up to sixty feet) above the ground. There are normally three eggs, sometimes two or four. The eggs are incubated by the female parent for fourteen to fifteen days. Both parents care for the young, which leave the nest after fourteen to sixteen days.

Species range

This species occurs in Utah only in the southwestern corner of the state: southern Washington and perhaps southwestern Kane counties, although breeding has not been confirmed in the latter county. Wolf and Jones (2000, Figure 1), however, did not consider this species to occur in Utah.

Migration

Populations in northern portion of U.S. breeding range move south for winter.

Habitat

Woodbury et al. (1949) said that this species occcurs in Utah in Washington and possibly Kane counties, "breeding in orchards and probably in mesquite and wash willows." Hayward et al. (1976) stated that this species is found in "the low deserts of southern Utah." Walters and Sorensen (1983) considered the Utah habitat of this species to be desert riparian woodlands (including Fremont cottonwood, willows, etc., at lower elevations), indicating that this is a habitat in which it is known to nest.

Food habits

Eats insects obtained by flycatching and from ground surface (Terres 1980).

Reproductive characteristics

Clutch size is 2-4 (usually 3). Some female possibly produce 2 broods per year. Incubation, by female, lasts 14-15 days. Young are tended by both parents, leave nest at 14-16 days.

Threats or limiting factors

Wolf and Jones (2000) said that "the primary threat to the Vermilion Flycatcher appears to be habitat destruction." This is probably true in Utah.

References

• Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye. 1988. The birder’s handbook[:] a field guide to the natural history of North American birds. Simon & Schuster, New York. xxx + 785 pp.
• Baicich, P. J., and C. J. O. Harrison. 1997. A guide to the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American birds. 2nd ed. Academic, San Diego. 347 pp.
• Peterson, R. T., and V. M. Peterson. 1990. A field guide to western birds, 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin, Boston. 432 pp.