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 Darién National Park
Tropical Kingbird
Tyrannus melancholicus
Streaked Flycatcher
Myiodynastes maculatus
Great Crested Flycatcher
Myiarchus crinitus
Yellow-breasted Flycatcher
Tolmomyias flaviventris
Rusty-margined Flycatcher
Myiozetetes cayanensis
Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher
Todirostrum nigriceps
Bright-rumped Attila
Attila spadiceus
Forest Elaenia
Myiopagis gaimardii
Piratic Flycatcher
Legatus leucophaius
Great Kiskadee
Pitangus sulphuratus
Southern Bentbill
Oncostoma olivaceum
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet
Tyrannulus elatus
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 Darién National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Boat-billed Flycatcher sighting in Darién National Park, based on 806 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Boat-billed Flycatcher in Darién National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for Boat-billed Flycatcher in Darién National Park in our monthly data.