Tobago: Boat-billed Flycatcher - Megarhynchus pitangua

The Boat-billed Flycatcher, Megarhynchus pitangua, is quite similar to the more frequently seen Great Kiskadee. We only saw the Boat-billed FC once on Trinidad, although the book says it is "common and widespread". Distance and perspective here gave less than jaw-dropping views, but we did get a decent look at the rather impressive bill. The Boat-billed is absent from Tobago.



Taxonomy of the Boat-billed is straightforward, as Megarhynchus is a monotypic genus, so no other species to complicate things. There are 6 Megarhynchus subspecies, that range from Mexico down to Argentina and Peru. This one is the nominate subspecies, M. p. pitangua, with the largest range, onr that includes Trinidad and parts of north and central South America down to n. Argentina (Clements, 6th ed.).



Other bird species associated with the name "Boat-bill" include 3 tyrant flycatchers (Boat-billed Tody-Tyrant, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Black-breasted Boatbill) and the amazing Boat-billed Heron.