Apical Flycatcher
Myiarchus apicalis
Medium-sized, dull flycatcher without many distinguishing features; typical of the genus Myiarchus. This species is restricted to Colombia, where it is found in dry woodland and scrubby habitat below 1700m. Generally brownish above with pale gray throat fading to lemon yellow belly. Crown is fairly dark brown. Look especially for the pale tips on the tail feathers to separate from similar species. Listen for dry ‘whit’ calls.
Identification
The apical flycatcher is a typical representative of the Myiarchus flycatchers: a slim, medium-sized bird with few really distinctive features. The bird is 18-19cm in length, with greyish-olive upperparts. The wings are dusky, with whitish fringes to the tertials and coverts showing as two faint wing bars. The crown of the head is brownish-olive. The bird's throat and breast are pale grey. The underparts are mainly pale yellow. The tail is dusky with a greyish-olive underside. The tips of the tail feathers are white, which is diagnostic when compared to other Myiarchus flycatchers in its range.<p>Males and females are identical in appearance. Juveniles have rufous fringes to their wing feathers.
Taxonomy
The species was first described in 1881 by the English zoologist Philip Sclater. The genus name derives the Ancient Greek muia - fly, and arkhos - ruler or chief. The species name comes from the Latin apical - of the point or tip - in reference to the white tips of the bird's tail feathers. The species is monotypic, having no recognized subspecies.
- Scientific name
- Myiarchus apicalis
- Authority
- Sclater, PL & Salvin, 1881
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Myiarchus
Range and habitat
The apical flycatcher is found in the tropical and temperate zones of Colombia at lower altitudes - from 400m and upwards. Authorities differ on the upper limit of their range, providing numbers between 1700-2500m. The species is locally frequent in dry forest, arid and semi-arid open areas, savannas, and fields with scattered trees or light woodland, in the upper basins of the Magdalena River, the Cauca River and the Patiá and Dagua Rivers.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Olive Honeyeater
Lichmera argentauris
A nondescript sparrow-sized songbird with a slender, downcurved bill. Entirely olive-green above and uniform pale gray below, but note head pattern, which includes a prominent whitish smudge on the cheeks and dull bare skin below the eye. Juvenile has a pink facial patch. Singles, pairs, or groups inhabit scrubland, wooded areas, and coconut plantations in lowlands. Confined to islets in the Moluccas and to West Papua, where it is readily identified by its head pattern. Harsh, squeaky vocalizations include “tchew” and “grrt” notes and “chi-witchoo” or “witch-oo” phrases.
Santa Marta Antbird
Drymophila hellmayri
Slender, long-tailed antbird restricted to the lower slopes of Colombia’s Santa Marta Mountains. It is heavily streaked on the head, breast, and back and has a tawny belly and rump. Male has darker and more contrasting streaks than female. No other similar antbird occurs in the Santa Martas. Inhabits stands of bamboo and usually first detected by voice. Typical song is two or more “chup” notes followed by several rasps. Regularly encountered along roadsides below El Dorado Nature Reserve.
Pale-vented Pigeon
Patagioenas cayennensis
Large pigeon of marshy savannas, riversides, open areas with scattered trees, locally even in towns, such as Villahermosa, Mexico. Gray head contrasts with pinkish body, and whitish belly does not contrast strongly with plain grayish tail; compare darker Red-billed Pigeon, which often occurs in same areas but prefers drier and more forested habitats. Also note black bill of Pale-vented, and subtly distinctive song: after long introductory coo, repeated phrase is typically a 3-syllable "who’koo-koo", unlike 4-syllable "oo’koo-koo-koo" of Red-billed.
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