Tobago: Brown-crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus tyrannulus

At 9+ inches the Brown-crested Flycatcher is the largest of the Myiarchus group, and is seen commonly in Tobago. The Brown-crested has a large bill, crested profile, light lemon-yellow belly, gray breast and pale gray throat. Rufous on the primaries and tail and 2 wing bars help complete the picture. That description almost sounds distinctive, but there are a number of Myiarchus species with similar features, so the avid birder would be well advised to learn the differences in their calls.

The Brown-crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus tyrannulus, has an extensive range, from the southern U.S. down to Bolivia and Argentina. Trinidad-Tobago has the nominate subspecies, M. t. tyrannulus, and 6 other subspecies are recognized. On the island of Trinidad-Tobago there are 3 Myiarchus species (a fourth, Swainson’s Flycatcher, hasn’t been seen there in decades). Some in our group got to see the Dusky-capped Flycatcher on Trinidad, and we got a brief look at the Venezuelan Flycatcher on Tobago.

Taxonomy - There are 22 species in the genus Myiarchus, 5 of which can be seen in the U.S. La Sagra’s Flycatcher is seen as a vagrant only in southern Florida, but the other 4 have been seen in California. The Ash-throated Flycatcher is common breeder here, and last January we had a Dusky-capped Flycatcher in Golden Gate Park! The Brown-crested is seen in Arizona and occasionally in southern California, while the eastern Great-crested Flycatcher is a vagrant here.

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.

Tobago: Gray Kingbird - Tyrannus dominicensis

Moving on from the colorful T-T birds we'll have a brief look at the Tyrant Flycather family, Tyrannidae, numbering more than 400 species! Most of the Tyrant Flycatchers are tropical New World species, but we have have about 37 species in the U.S., including this Gray Kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis. (Click on photo for larger view)



The Gray Kingbird is uncommon on Trinidad, but can be found in open areas near the coast in Tobago. In Florida we saw the Gray Kingbird hunting from a perch on a wire, and they are usually seen on a high open hunting perch. Here the bird was at eye level, making for a better portrait. The Gray Kingbird is a large (9") flycatcher, with a fairly long and thick bill. It has a dark mask that makes it look a bit like a Loggerhead Shrike, and lacks the yellow on the belly seen in some other Kingbirds like the Tropical kingbird, and our Western and Cassin's Kingbirds.

Gray Kingbird is found throughout the West Indies and down to northern South America. In the U.S. they are seen on the along the eastern and Gulf coasts, from North Carolina around to Mississippi. The island populations are mostly sedentary. They feed on insects captured in mid-air, but also eat berries, fruits and lizards.

These birds are said to have a "petulant voice and feisty disposition". Around their nest they fearlessly attack any intruder, including not only grackles, crows, hawks and herons but even dogs, pigs and humans! (BNA #668, Smith and Jackson).

More taxonomy:
37 of the 420-odd Tyrant Flycatcher species are found in Trinidad-Tobago. Our group managed to see about 15 of them, with the Tropical Kingbird and Great Kiskadee seen most often.

The genus Tyrannus has 13 species, 11 called "Kingbird", plus the Scissor-tailed and Fork-billed Flycatchers. Locally we see decent numbers of the Western Kingbirds, but every year along our coast a few Tropical Kingbirds and the occasional Eastern Kingbird are spotted. Cassin's Kingbirds are seen more inland and to the south.

Tobago: Rufous-breasted Hermit

Only got one shot of a Hermit, as they don't seem to perch as often as the other hummers. The Rufous-breasted Hermit is present on both islands. This one came to a feeder at Newton George's house, up the hill from Blue Water Inn on Tobago, and a good spot for the elusive White-tailed Sabrewing. Newton George, AKA "NG" is a renowned Tobago birding guide, btw, although we did not have chance to go in the field with him.

There are over 300 species of hummingbirds, and over 10% of the (35 species) are in a sub-family called Hermits (Phaethornithinae). Most of the Hermits have a decurved bill, adapted to extract nectar from certain flowers like those of Heliconias. Hermits are said to be less iridescent than the average hummer, and show less difference between male and female. As a group they tend to be restricted to tropical and semitropical forest edges and undergrowth, rather than open spaces.

The Rufous-breasted is one of only 3 species in the genus Glaucis. The genus Phaethornis includes an amazing 26 species of Hermits, including the Little Hermit and Green Hermit that our group saw at Asa Wright on Trinidad.

My gear isn't quite up to hummingbird flight shots, but still worth sharing.