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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Perching Birds (Order Passeriformes)

-Tyrant Flycatchers (Family Tyrannidae)

-Myiarchus Flycatchers (Genus Myiarchus)

-Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)​​​​​


Myiarchus cinerascens, also known as the Ash-throated Flycatcher, is found primarily in the southwestern United States and Mexico. This species of flycatcher prefers open woodlands and grassland with scattered trees, and can often be found perched atop branches or flying in search of insects. The Ash-throated Flycatcher has a grayish-olive back and light grayish-yellow underparts, with an ash-colored throat and breast. It has a wingspan of 18cm and a body length of 15cm. During mating season, the male performs a series of song and flight displays to attract the female. The Ash-throated Flycatcher's diet consists of a variety of insects, including beetles, flies, wasps, and bees.

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Myiarchus cinerascens

Diet

  • Primarily insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, crickets, caterpillars, bees, wasps, flies, and spiders.

  • Also feeds on berries and small fruits, particularly during autumn and winter.

  • Hunts from exposed perches, making short aerial sallies to catch flying insects or dropping to the ground to seize prey.

Range

  • Breeds in the western United States, southern British Columbia, and northern Mexico.

  • Winters from southern Mexico through Central America.

  • In Mexico, it is a common winter visitor, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it inhabits tropical dry forests, thorn scrub, woodland edges, open woodlands, and agricultural areas with scattered trees.

  • Prefers open, semi-arid habitats with scattered trees and shrubs.

Male / Female

  • Male: Grey head and throat, pale gray breast, yellow belly, olive-brown back, and rich rufous patches in the wings and tail. Slightly larger than the female.

  • Female: Nearly identical in plumage but generally a little smaller and duller.

  • Sexes cannot be reliably distinguished in the field except by subtle size differences or breeding behaviour.

Size

  • Length: 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in)

  • Wingspan: 29–32 cm (11.4–12.6 in)

  • Weight: 23–35 g

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