Swainson's Flycatcher

About the Swainson's Flycatcher

Swainson's flycatcher (Myiarchus swainsoni) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile and French Guiana and as a vagrant to Aruba and Trinidad.

As of July 2025, major taxonomic systems had assigned Swainson's flycatcher these four subspecies: M. s. phaeonotus Salvin & Godman, 1883 M. s. pelzelni Berlepsch, 1883 M. s. ferocior Cabanis, 1883 M. s. swainsoni Cabanis & Heine, 1860

However, this taxonomy is unsettled. All four subspecies were previously treated as individual species but were combined as one in the 1930s. Studies published in the early 2000s showed that the nominate subspecies M. s. swainsoni differs genetically from the other three, which appear to be more closely related to the dusky-capped flycatcher (M. tuberculifer) than to swainsoni. In light of these studies some authors have urged that further studies be undertaken, and the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society is seeking a proposal to reevaluate the species. The Clements taxonomy takes a different approach than that suggested by the studies. It treats... Wikipedia →