Swainson’s Flycatcher

Myiarchus swainsoni

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Quick Facts

Migratory
  • Scientific Name: Myiarchus swainsoni
  • Spanish Name: Atrapamoscas de Swainson
  • Family: Tyrannidae
  • Known Nicknames: Swainson's Myiarchus, Swainson’s Flycatcher
  • Average Length: 18–20 cm / 7.1–7.9 in
  • Average Weight: 23–30 g / 0.81–1.06 oz
  • Wingspan: 28–32 cm / 11–12.6 in
  • Key Feature: Rufous-edged wings and tail, pale yellow belly, gray-brown upperparts
  • Primary Diet: Insectivore (primarily flying insects, also some berries)
  • Range: South America (eastern and central, from Colombia and Venezuela south to Argentina and Uruguay, also Trinidad)
  • Habitat: Open woodland, forest edges, savanna, and secondary growth
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs
  • Nesting/Breeding: Tree cavities or old woodpecker holes
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Swainson’s Flycatcher (*Myiarchus swainsoni*) is a sleek, medium-sized tyrant flycatcher that inhabits open woodlands and forest edges from eastern Panama through much of South America. Its general appearance is characterized by a brownish-gray back, a pale yellow belly, and a dusky tail with rufous inner edges, which flash conspicuously during flight. One of its most unique characteristics is its vocal repertoire: it produces a distinctive, rolling "prrrrrip" call and a sharp, whistled "whee," often delivered from an exposed perch. A special feature is its nesting behavior—it frequently commandeers abandoned woodpecker holes or natural cavities, lining them with soft materials like feathers and fur. This adaptable bird also stands out for its subtle sexual dimorphism, with males and females nearly identical in plumage, making field identification reliant on voice and habitat rather than visual cues.

Fun Facts

Swainson’s Flycatcher has a peculiar habit of frequently twitching its tail upward and sideways, a motion so exaggerated it looks almost mechanical. It’s one of the few flycatchers known to incorporate live, wriggling insects into its nest lining—perhaps to deter predators or parasites. During migration, this bird performs a “dawn ascent,” climbing hundreds of meters into the sky at first light before resuming its journey, a behavior thought to help it orient using the horizon. Its call, a sharp, whistled *whee-urrr*, can be mistaken for a human whistle, and it sometimes mimics the calls of other birds to confuse rivals or predators.

Habitats & Distribution

Swainson's Flycatcher inhabits a variety of open and semi-open wooded environments, including gallery forests, forest edges, savannas with scattered trees, and secondary growth. It is also commonly found in plantations, orchards, and suburban gardens, typically avoiding dense, humid primary rainforest. Its geographical range extends across much of South America east of the Andes, from central and eastern Brazil, through Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, south to central Argentina. During the austral winter, northern populations migrate to the Amazon basin and the Guianas, while southern populations move into the northern Andes and parts of the Caribbean coast.

Behaviours & Reproduction

Swainson's Flycatcher is generally solitary or found in loose pairs during the breeding season, with males defending territories through vocalizations and short chases. Mating involves the male performing a courtship display that includes raising his crest, flicking his wings, and singing from prominent perches to attract a female. Pairs form a monogamous bond for the season, and both sexes participate in nest construction, typically in natural tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes. The female lays a clutch of 2–4 eggs, and she alone incubates them for about two weeks, while the male provides food for her during this period. After hatching, both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after approximately 16–18 days. A unique reproductive strategy is their reliance on existing cavities rather than excavating their own, which reduces energy expenditure but makes them dependent on the availability of suitable nesting sites.

Diet

The Swainson's Flycatcher is primarily an insectivore, with its diet consisting almost entirely of a wide variety of flying insects such as flies, bees, wasps, beetles, and dragonflies, which it typically catches in agile aerial sallies from a perch. An interesting fact is that, like many tyrant flycatchers, it often returns to the same exposed perch after each hunting foray. Additionally, during the non-breeding season, it will supplement its diet with small fruits and berries, demonstrating a degree of dietary flexibility that helps it survive in its South American habitats.

Colors

Swainson’s Flycatcher is a medium-sized tyrant flycatcher with a dull olive-brown back, a grayish throat and chest, and a pale yellow belly. Its wings and tail show rufous edges, and the tail has a distinctive dark central stripe with rufous outer webs. It lacks bold markings, relying on its subdued, earthy coloration for camouflage in the forest canopy.

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