By Dan Weisz
Most Flycatchers are drab, but the Vermilion Flycatcher is a stunning exception. Fairly common in parts of the Southwest, the vermilion flycatcher is also widespread in Central and South America. In Tucson, you can find at least one one in practically every ball field, park, playground, and cemetery throughout the city. (In the Catalina Foothills, they can be seen regularly on the playground of Orange Grove Middle School.) As flycatchers, they are insect eaters. They forage by watching for prey from a low perch, and then either fly out to capture an insect from the air or they drop to the ground to take any insect they spot.
The male Vermilion Flycatchers below show their brilliant beauty on a variety of perches found at East Lawn Palms Cemetery on Grant Road over a two day period. The setting provided what seems like “studio shots” with a variety of sets and backgrounds.
The sound of a vermilion flycatcher is described by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology as a “series of chips followed by a trill; often repeated about 10 times. Call is a sharp, long “peent.” ”
This recording is from a different library from other recordings I’ve sent out. This one is as long over three minutes long. You may want to display your favorite photo above while listening to this concert…