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 →
Closest Relatives at Chagres National Park
Guatemalan Paltry Tyrannulet
Zimmerius vilissimus
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant
Lophotriccus pileatus
Streaked Flycatcher
Myiodynastes maculatus
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Myiarchus tuberculifer
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Elaenia flavogaster
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Camptostoma obsoletum
Social Flycatcher
Myiozetetes similis
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Contopus virens
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
Mionectes oleagineus
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum cinereum
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 Chagres National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Boat-billed Flycatcher sighting in Chagres National Park, based on 80 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Boat-billed Flycatcher in Chagres National Park?
April has the highest sighting rate for Boat-billed Flycatcher in Chagres National Park in our monthly data.