Boat-billed Flycatcher
Megarynchus pitangua
Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyTyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
- GenusMegarynchus
- SpeciesMegarynchus pitangua (Boat-billed Flycatcher)
About the Boat-billed Flycatcher
The boat-billed flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua) is a large member of the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Mexico, in every Central American country, on Trinidad, and in every mainland South American country though only as a vagrant in Chile.
The boat-billed flycatcher was originally described as Lanius pitangua, mistakenly placing it in the shrike family. It was eventually moved to its present genus Megarynchus that was erected in 1824. That name is from the Greek "μεγα" (mega) meaning "much" and "ῥυγχος" (rhunkhos) meaning "bill". The specific epithet derives from the Tupi language name for the bird, "Pitanguá guacú".
The boat-billed flycatcher is the only member of its genus and has these six subspecies: M. p. tardiusculus Moore, RT, 1941 M. p. caniceps Ridgway, 1906 M. p. mexicanus (Lafresnaye, 1851) M. p. deserticola Griscom, 1930 M. p. pitangua (Linnaeus, 1766)
M. p. chrysogaster Sclater, PL, 1860 There are differences among the subspecies' vocalizations, leading some authors to state that "critical re-evaluation of [the] races is needed". The Clements taxonomy recognizes some distinctions within the species by calling... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Boat-billed Flycatcher in Amacayacu National Natural Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Amacayacu National Natural Park
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Pitangus sulphuratus
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Tyrannus melancholicus
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet
Tyrannulus elatus
Spotted Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum maculatum
Social Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Slender-footed Tyrannulet
Zimmerius gracilipes
Short-crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus ferox
Piratic Flycatcher
Legatus leucophaius
Lesser Kiskadee
Pitangus lictor
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher
Tolmomyias flaviventris
Gray-crowned Flycatcher
Tolmomyias poliocephalus
Gray-capped Flycatcher
Myiozetetes granadensis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Boat-billed Flycatcher in Amacayacu National Natural Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Boat-billed Flycatcher sighting in Amacayacu National Natural Park, based on 213 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Boat-billed Flycatcher in Amacayacu National Natural Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Boat-billed Flycatcher in Amacayacu National Natural Park in our monthly data.