– A Bird That Will Mesmerize You With Its Catching Skills
The Cordilleran Flycatcher is a small, inconspicuous bird that can be found in the western United States and parts of Mexico. This bird belongs to the family Tyrannidae, which contains over 400 species of flycatchers.
Basic Description:
The Cordilleran Flycatcher is usually about 5-6 inches long with a wingspan of around 8 inches. The male has olive-green upperparts with a yellow belly while the female is duller and lacks the yellow belly. Both sexes have a distinctive white eye-ring, whitish throat, and pale wing-bars.
Where To Find This Bird:
This tiny bird prefers to live in forests or woodlands near clear streams or rivers at an elevation up to 10,000 feet above sea level. They are commonly found throughout western North America from Alaska down through California and as far south as central Mexico.
Habitat:
Cordilleran Flycatchers typically build their nests on horizontal branches near water sources such as streams or rivers. They construct their nests out of grasses and mosses held together by spider webs, which give them added strength.
Food:
As its name suggests, this bird feeds entirely on insects including flies, beetles, ants and moths; hence it’s called insectivorous. It’s fascinating how quickly they can spot prey even in dense vegetation where they often perch atop high perches waiting for flying insects to pass by before darting out to catch them mid-air using their sharp beak!
Cool Facts:
– The Cordilleran Flycatcher has excellent flying skills thanks to its long wings.
– Unlike other birds that use mud for nesting material like swallows do – this flycatcher uses spider silk!
– These birds don’t migrate far – most travel less than 1500 miles southward during winter months.
– They often fledge two broods in a season, but sometimes up to three if food is plentiful.
In conclusion, the Cordilleran Flycatcher may be small and unassuming, but its exceptional hunting skills and fascinating nesting habits make it a noteworthy bird worth observing. If you ever find yourself near clear streams or rivers in western North America, keep an ear out for the distinctive call of this charming little bird!
