Biology:Tyrant flycatcher

From HandWiki
Short description: Family of birds found in the Americas

Tyrant flycatchers
Yellowish flycatcher,
Empidonax flavescens
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Parvorder: Tyrannida
Family: Tyrannidae
Vigors, 1825
Type genus
Tyrannus
Genera

Some 100, see text

Distribution of tyrant flycatchers

The tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae) are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America.[1] They are considered the largest family of birds known to exist in the world, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and Canada . The members vary greatly in shape, patterns, size and colors. Some tyrant flycatchers may superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers, which they are named after but are not closely related to. They are members of suborder Tyranni (suboscines), which do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of most other songbirds.[2]

A number of species previously included in this family are now placed in the family Tityridae (see Systematics). Sibley and Alquist in their 1990 bird taxonomy had the genera Mionectes, Leptopogon, Pseudotriccus, Poecilotriccus, Taenotriccus, Hemitriccus, Todirostrum and Corythopis as a separate family Pipromorphidae,[3] but although it is still thought that these genera are basal to most of the family, they are not each other's closest relatives.[3]

Description

Most, but not all, species are rather plain, with various hues of brown, gray and white commonplace, often providing some degree of presumed camouflage. Obvious exceptions include the bright red vermilion flycatcher, blue, black, white and yellow many-colored rush-tyrant and some species of tody-flycatchers or tyrants, which are often yellow, black, white and/or rufous, from the Todirostrum, Hemitriccus and Poecilotriccus genera. Several species have bright yellow underparts, from the ornate flycatcher to the great kiskadee. Some species have erectile crests. Several of the large genera (i.e. Elaenia, Myiarchus or Empidonax) are quite difficult to tell apart in the field due to similar plumage and some are best distinguished by their voices. Behaviorally they can vary from species such as spadebills which are tiny, shy and live in dense forest interiors to kingbirds, which are relatively large, bold, inquisitive and often inhabit open areas near human habitations. As the name implies, a great majority of tyrant flycatchers are almost entirely insectivorous (though not necessarily specialized in flies). Tyrant flycatchers are largely opportunistic feeders and often catch any flying or arboreal insect they encounter. However, food can vary greatly and some (like the large great kiskadee) will eat fruit or small vertebrates (e.g. small frogs). In North America, most species are associated with a "sallying" feeding style, where they fly up to catch an insect directly from their perch and then immediately return to the same perch. Most tropical species, however, do not feed in this fashion and several types prefer to glean insects from leaves and bark. Tropical species are sometimes found in mixed-species foraging flocks, where various types of passerines and other smallish birds are found feeding in proximity.

The smallest family members are the closely related short-tailed pygmy tyrant and black-capped pygmy tyrant from the genus Myiornis (the first species usually being considered marginally smaller on average). These species reach a total length of 6.5–7 cm (2.6–2.8 in) and a weight of 4 to 5 g (0.14 to 0.18 oz). By length, they are the smallest passerines on earth, although some species of Old World warblers apparently rival them in their minuscule mean body masses if not in total length.[4] The minuscule size and very short tail of the Myiornis pygmy tyrants often lend them a resemblance to a tiny ball or insect. The largest tyrant flycatcher is the great shrike-tyrant at 29 cm (11 in) and 99.2 grams (0.219 pounds). A few species such as the streamer-tailed tyrant, scissor-tailed flycatcher and fork-tailed flycatcher have a larger total length — up to 41 cm (16 in) in the fork-tailed flycatcher at least — but this is mainly due to their extremely long tails; the fork-tailed flycatcher has the longest tail feathers of any known bird relative to their size (this being in reference to true tail feathers, not to be confused with elongated tail streamers as seen in some from the Phasianidae family of galliforms).[5]

Habitat and distribution

Species richness of Tyrannidae, when compared to habitat, is highly variable, although most every land habitat in the Americas has at least some of these birds. The habitats of tropical lowland evergreen forest and montane evergreen forest have the highest single site species diversity while many habitats including rivers, palm forest, white sand forest, tropical deciduous forest edge, southern temperate forest, southern temperate forest edge, semi-humid/humid montane scrub, and northern temperate grassland have the lowest single species diversity. The variation between the highest and the lowest is extreme; ninety species can be found in the tropical lowland evergreen forests while the number of species that can be found in the habitats listed above typically are in the single digits. This may be due in part to the fewer niches found in certain areas and therefore fewer places for the species to occupy.

Tyrannidae specialization among habitats is very strong in tropical lowland evergreen forests and montane evergreen forests. These habitat types, therefore, display the greatest specialization. The counts differ by three species (tropical lowland evergreen forests have 49 endemic species and montane evergreen forests have 46 endemic species). It can be assumed that they both have similar levels of specialization.

Regionally, the Atlantic Forest has the highest species richness with the Chocó following closely behind.

Status and conservation

The northern beardless tyrannulet (Camptostoma imberbe) is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.[6] This species is common south of the US border. The situation for a number of other species from South and Central America is far more problematic. In 2007, BirdLife International (and consequently IUCN) considered two species, the Minas Gerais tyrannulet and Kaempfer's tody-tyrant critically endangered. Both are endemic to Brazil. Additionally, seven species were considered endangered and eighteen species vulnerable.[7]

Systematics

The family contains 447 species divided into 104 genera.[8] A full list, sortable by common and binomial names, is at list of tyrant flycatcher species. Species in the genera Tityra, Pachyramphus, Laniocera and Xenopsaris were formerly placed in this family, but evidence suggested they belong in their own family, the Tityridae,[9] where they are now placed by SACC.

Image Genus Species
Piprites Cabanis, 1847
Phyllomyias Cabanis & Heine, 1859
Tyrannulus Vieillot, 1816
  • Yellow-crowned tyrannulet,Tyrannulus elatus
Myiopagis Salvin & Godman, 1888
Elaenia Sundevall, 1836
Ornithion Hartlaub, 1853
Camptostoma P.L. Sclater, 1857
Suiriri d'Orbigny, 1840
  • Suiriri flycatcher, Suiriri suiriri
Mecocerculus P.L. Sclater, 1862
Anairetes Reichenbach, 1850
Uromyias Hellmayr, 1927
Serpophaga Gould, 1839
Nesotriccus Townsend, CH, 1895
  • Southern mouse-colored tyrannulet, Nesotriccus murinus
  • Northern mouse-colored tyrannulet, Nesotriccus incomtus
  • Cocos tyrannulet, Nesotriccus ridgwayi
  • Tumbesian tyrannulet, Nesotriccus tumbezanus
  • Maranon tyrannulet, Nesotriccus maranonicus
Capsiempis Cabanis & Heine, 1859
  • Yellow tyrannulet, Capsiempis flaveola
Polystictus Reichenbach, 1850
  • Bearded tachuri (Polystictus pectoralis)
  • Grey-backed tachuri (Polystictus superciliaris)
Pseudocolopteryx Lillo, 1905
Pseudotriccus Taczanowski & Berlepsch, 1885
Corythopis Sundevall, 1836
Euscarthmus Wied-Neuwied, 1831
Pseudelaenia W. Lanyon, 1988
Stigmatura Sclater & Salvin, 1866
Zimmerius Traylor, 1977
Pogonotriccus Cabanis & Heine, 1859
Phylloscartes Cabanis & Heine, 1859
Mionectes Cabanis, 1844
Leptopogon Cabanis, 1844
Guyramemua Lopes et al., 2017
  • Chapada flycatcher (Guyramemua affine)
Sublegatus Sclater & Salvin, 1868
Inezia Cherrie, 1909
Myiophobus Reichenbach, 1850
Nephelomyias (Ohlson, Fjeldsa and Ericson, 2009)
Myiotriccus Ridgway, 1905
  • Ornate flycatcher (Myiotriccus ornatus)
Tachuris Lafresnaye, 1836
  • Many-coloured rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra)
Culicivora Swainson, 1827
  • Sharp-tailed grass tyrant (Culicivora caudacuta)
Hemitriccus Cabanis & Heine, 1859
Myiornis Bertoni, A.W., 1901
Oncostoma P.L. Sclater, 1862
Lophotriccus Berlepsch, 1884
Atalotriccus Ridgway, 1905
  • Pale-eyed pygmy tyrant (Atalotriccus pilaris)
Poecilotriccus Berlepsch, 1884
Taeniotriccus Berlepsch & Hartert, 1902
  • Black-chested tyrant (Taeniotriccus andrei)
Todirostrum – typical tody-flycatchers Lesson, 1831
Cnipodectes P.L. Sclater & Salvin, 1873
Rhynchocyclus Cabanis & Heine, 1859
Tolmomyias Hellmayr, 1927
Calyptura Swainson, 1832
  • Kinglet calyptura (Calyptura cristata)
Platyrinchus Desmarest, 1805
Neopipo Sclater & Salvin, 1869
  • Cinnamon manakin-tyrant (Neopipo cinnamomea)
Pyrrhomyias Cabanis & Heine, 1859
  • Cinnamon flycatcher (Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus)
HirundineaOrbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837
  • Cliff flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea)
Lathrotriccus Lanyon,W & Lanyon,S, 1986
  • Euler's flycatcher, Lathrotriccus euleri
    • Grenadan Euler's flycatcher, Lathrotriccus euleri flaviventris - formerly Empidonax euleri johnstonei; extinct (early 1950s)
  • Grey-breasted flycatcher, Lathrotriccus griseipectus
Aphanotriccus Ridgway, 1905
Cnemotriccus Hellmayr, 1927
  • Fuscous flycatcher (Cnemotriccus fuscatus)
Xenotriccus Dwight & Griscom, 1927
Sayornis – phoebes Bonaparte, 1854
Mitrephanes Coues, 1882
Contopus Cabanis, 1855
Empidonax Cabanis, 1855
Pyrocephalus Gould, 1839
Ochthornis P.L. Sclater, 1888
  • Drab water tyrant (Ochthornis littoralis)
Satrapa Strickland, 1844
  • Yellow-browed tyrant (Satrapa icterophrys)
Syrtidicola Chesser et al, 2020
  • Little ground tyrant (Syrtidicola fluviatilis)
Muscisaxicola – ground tyrants Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837
Lessonia Swainson, 1832
Hymenops Lesson, 1828
  • Spectacled tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus)
Knipolegus F. Boie, 1826
Cnemarchus Ridgway, 1905
Xolmis F. Boie, 1826
Pyrope Cabanis & Heine, 1860
  • Fire-eyed diucon (Pyrope pyrope)
Nengetus Swainson, 1827
  • Grey monjita (Nengetus cinereus)
Neoxolmis Hellmayr, 1927
Myiotheretes Reichenbach, 1850
Agriornis – shrike-tyrants Gould, 1839
Gubernetes Such, 1825
  • Streamer-tailed tyrant (Gubernetes yetapa)
Muscipipra Lesson, 1831
  • Shear-tailed grey tyrant (Muscipipra vetula)
Fluvicola Swainson, 1827
Arundinicola d'Orbigny, 1840
  • White-headed marsh tyrant (Arundinicola leucocephala)
Heteroxolmis Lanyon, W, 1986
  • Black-and-white monjita (Heteroxolmis dominicanus)
Alectrurus Vieillot, 1816
Tumbezia Chapman, 1925
  • Tumbes tyrant (Tumbezia salvini)
Silvicultrix Lanyon, W, 1986
Ochthoeca Cabanis, 1847
Colorhamphus Sundevall, 1872
  • Patagonian tyrant (Colorhamphus parvirostris)
Colonia
  • Long-tailed tyrant (Colonia colonus)
Muscigralla Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837
  • Short-tailed field tyrant (Muscigralla brevicauda)
Machetornis G.R. Gray, 1841
  • Cattle tyrant (Machetornis rixosa)
Legatus P.L. Sclater, 1859
  • Piratic flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius)
Phelpsia W. Lanyon, 1984
  • White-bearded flycatcher (Phelpsia inornata)
Myiozetetes P.L. Sclater, 1859
Pitangus Swainson, 1827
  • Great kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)
Philohydor Lanyon, W, 1984
  • Lesser kiskadee (Philohydor lictor)
    • P. l. panamensis (Bangs & Penard, TE, 1918)
    • P. l. lictor (Lichtenstein, MHK, 1823)
Conopias Cabanis & Heine, 1859
Myiodynastes Bonaparte, 1857
Megarynchus Thunberg, 1824
Tyrannopsis Ridgway, 1905
  • Sulphury flycatcher (Tyrannopsis sulphurea)
Empidonomus Cabanis & Heine, 1859
  • Variegated flycatcher (Empidonomus varius)
Griseotyrannus W.E. Lanyon, 1984
  • Crowned slaty flycatcher (Griseotyrannus aurantioatrocristatus)
Tyrannus Lacépède, 1799
  • Snowy-throated kingbird, Tyrannus niveigularis
  • White-throated kingbird, Tyrannus albogularis
  • Tropical kingbird, Tyrannus melancholicus
  • Couch's kingbird, Tyrannus couchii
  • Cassin's kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans
  • Thick-billed kingbird, Tyrannus crassirostris
  • Western kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
  • Scissor-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus
  • Fork-tailed flycatcher, Tyrannus savana
  • Eastern kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
  • Gray kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis
  • Giant kingbird, Tyrannus cubensis
  • Loggerhead kingbird, Tyrannus caudifasciatus
Rhytipterna Reichenbach, 1850
Sirystes Cabanis & Heine, 1859
Casiornis Des Murs , 1856
Myiarchus Cabanis, 1844
Ramphotrigon G.R. Gray, 1855
Attila Lesson, 1831
  • Rufous-tailed attila (Attila phoenicurus)
  • Cinnamon attila (Attila cinnamomeus)
  • Ochraceous attila (Attila torridus)
  • Citron-bellied attila (Attila citriniventris)
  • White-eyed attila (Attila bolivianus)
  • Grey-hooded attila (Attila rufus)
  • Bright-rumped attila (Attila spadiceus)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tyrant flycatchers « IOC World Bird List". http://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/flycatchers/. 
  2. ↑ del Hoyo, J. Elliott, A. & Christie, D. (editors). (2004) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-69-5
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Rheindt, F.E.; Norman, J.A.; Christidis, L. (2008). "Phylogenetic relationships of tyrant-flycatchers (Aves: Tyrannidae), with an emphasis on the elaeniine assemblage". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46 (1): 88–101. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.09.011. PMID 18042406. http://www.bio-nica.info/biblioteca/Rheindt2007Aves.pdf. Retrieved 2012-08-05. 
  4. ↑ CRC Handbook of Avian Body Masses, 2nd Edition by John B. Dunning Jr. (Editor). CRC Press (2008), ISBN 978-1-4200-6444-5.
  5. ↑ Bird, David Mitchell (2004). The Bird Almanac: A Guide to Essential Facts and Figures of the World's Birds. Buffalo, NY, USA: Firefly Books. p. 70. ISBN 978-1-55297-925-9. https://books.google.com/books?id=HTX6BatQFDgC&pg=PA70. Retrieved 2016-11-24. 
  6. ↑ "List of Migratory Bird Species Protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act as of December 2, 2013" U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  7. ↑ BirdLife International (2007). Species factsheets. Accessed 12 December 2007 available online
  8. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds (December 2023). "Tyrant flycatchers". IOC World Bird List Version 14.1. International Ornithologists' Union. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/bow/flycatchers/. 
  9. ↑ Adopt the Family Tityridae – South American Classification Committee (2007)

Further reading

  • Fjeldså, J.; Ohlson, J.I.; Batalha Filho, H.; Ericson, P.G.P.; Irestedt, M. (2018). "Rapid expansion and diversification into new niche space by fluvicoline flycatchers". Journal of Avian Biology 49 (3): jav-01661. doi:10.1111/jav.01661. 
  • Ohlson, J.I.; Irestedt, M.; Batalha Filho, H.; Ericson, P.G.P.; Fjeldså, J. (2020). "A revised classification of the fluvicoline tyrant flycatchers (Passeriformes, Tyrannidae, Fluvicolinae)". Zootaxa 4747 (1): 167–176. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4747.1.7. PMID 32230123. 
  • Tello, J.G.; Moyle, R.G.; Marchese, D.J.; Cracraft, J. (2009). "Phylogeny and phylogenetic classification of the tyrant flycatchers, cotingas, manakins, and their allies (Aves: Tyrannides)". Cladistics 25 (5): 429–467. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2009.00254.x. PMID 34879622. 

Wikidata ☰ Q217478 entry



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Biology:Tyrant_flycatcher&oldid=277028"