Puerto Rican Flycatcher


The Puerto Rican Flycatcher (Myiarchus antillarum) is a small passerine bird found only in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The bird is around 7.5 inches in length, with a wingspan of approximately 10 inches. The Puerto Rican Flycatcher weighs approximately 0.8 ounces, making it one of the smallest birds in the flycatcher family.

The Puerto Rican Flycatcher can be distinguished from other flycatchers by its yellow belly and eyebrow, gray head and upperparts, and a noticeable crest on its head. The bird’s wings and tail feathers are brown with a slightly darker hue on the wings. The Puerto Rican Flycatcher has a sharp, pointed beak that helps it catch small insects, its main source of food.

The Puerto Rican Flycatcher is a year-round resident of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and does not migrate. Its natural habitat is dry and moist forests, as well as mangrove swamps and plantations. It is a territorial bird and typically nests in tree cavities or abandoned nests built by other birds, such as woodpeckers.

Unfortunately, the Puerto Rican Flycatcher is considered endangered due to habitat loss and predation by non-native species, such as the Indian Mongoose. Conservation efforts have been underway to protect the bird’s habitat and control the invasive species that threaten its survival.

Overall, the Puerto Rican Flycatcher is a small but important bird in the ecosystem of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Its unique features and important role in controlling insect populations make it an important species to protect and conserve.

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