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 Cañón del Sumidero National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Cañón del Sumidero National Park
Social Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Myiarchus tuberculifer
Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus
Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher
Myiodynastes luteiventris
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
Tolmomyias sulphurescens
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus tyrannulus
Northern Bentbill
Oncostoma cinereigulare
Belted Flycatcher
Xenotriccus callizonus
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Camptostoma imberbe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus
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 Cañón del Sumidero National Park?
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Boat-billed Flycatcher sighting in Cañón del Sumidero National Park, based on 887 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Boat-billed Flycatcher in Cañón del Sumidero National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Boat-billed Flycatcher in Cañón del Sumidero National Park in our monthly data.