Vermilion Flycatcher

The male Vermilion Flycatcher is one of the most eye-catching songbirds in North America, glowing with fiery scarlet-red plumage over the crown, throat, and underparts, set against a contrasting blackish-brown mask, back, and tail. Females and juveniles are far more subdued, showing grayish-brown upperparts, a streaked whitish breast, and a peachy-pink wash on the lower belly.

Found in open, sunny habitats near water in the desert Southwest and south through Mexico and much of South America, this small flycatcher often performs a fluttering display flight and song high over its territory, making the male's brilliant color even more conspicuous.

Key Field Marks

• Male: brilliant scarlet-red crown, throat, and underparts contrasting with a blackish-brown mask, back, and tail
• Female/immature: grayish-brown above with a whitish, streaked breast and a peachy-salmon wash on the belly, lacking the male's red
• Small size and relatively short tail
• Often perches low and conspicuously, flicking its tail

Similar Species

• No other North American flycatcher shows the male's all-red plumage, making adult males unmistakable.
• Females can be confused with other small flycatchers but show a distinctive peachy belly wash and streaked breast not matched by similar species.

Vermilion Flycatchers inhabit open, sunny habitats with scattered trees or shrubs near water, including desert riparian corridors, ranchland, agricultural fields, and mesquite bosques, from the southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and southern California) south through Mexico, Central America, and much of South America.

Most U.S. populations are largely resident or short-distance migrants, with some northern birds moving south or to lower elevations in winter.

Voice

Gives a soft, tinkling song often described as pit-pit-pitseet, frequently delivered during a fluttering display flight in which the male rises and flutters down while singing.

Feeding

Sallies from a low, exposed perch to catch flying insects, often returning to the same perch after each sortie; forages actively over open ground, water, and low vegetation.

Nesting

Builds a small, shallow cup nest of twigs and grass, saddled on a horizontal branch, typically in a tree near water; the female alone incubates while the male defends the territory and feeds her during incubation.