California
Pyrocephalus rubinus  Gerald and Buff Corsi, California Academy of Sciences | |
| Type of Animal: | Birds |
|---|---|
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Tyrannidae |
| Federal Status: | |
| State Status: | |
| Occurrence: | |
| Habitat: | Arid Regions,Scrub,Desert,Savanna |
| Description: | The Vermilion Flycatcher is a distinctive species. Indeed, males are among the more strikingly-plumaged and unmistakable birds that occur in California. Females and young males have more subtle plumage, although any small flycatcher with light streaking on the breast and a rose or pink wash to the belly and vent ought to be readily identifiable as this species. Immature female are duller still, often with only a light yellow wash on the belly. Like its closest relatives, the phoebes (Sayornis spp.), this flycatcher is partial to open areas and often perches in a conspicuous location from which it sallies frequently attempting to capture prey. No systematic studies have been conducted, but its prey consists largely of flying insects, although, again like phoebes, it will take arthropods from the ground (Bendire, 1895). The Vermilion Flycatcher is a widespread tropical species whose range barely extends northward into the southwestern United States, where it breeds locally northward to southeastern California and southern Nevada. |
| Effort: | |
| References: | Species account prepared for BLM California Desert District by Michael A. Patten, Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside |
| Other Sites: | http://www.blm.gov/ca/pdfs/cdd_pdfs/verfly1.PDF |
| Field Office(s): | Barstow; Palm Springs; Redding; Ridgecrest |