Nutting's flycatcher (Myiarchus nuttingi)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Myiarchus ("fly ruler") nuttingi (for Zoologist Charles Cleveland Nutting)

Nutting's flycatcher (Myiarchus nuttingi) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Myiarchus nuttingi nuttingi
Weight: 21-24g  /  Length: 18-19cm  /  Wingspan: 30cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the several similiar myiarchus flycatchers found in Costa Rica, Nutting's is especially similar to the Brown-crested flycatcher but differs in some subtle details as well as the calls. Tarcoles represents the very Southernmost point of its range which extends from Mexico.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Myiarchus
SUBSPECIES: M. n. inquietus, M. n. nuttingi
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican) - Copetón de Nutting
A fairly common resident in the North-West
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Myiarchus ("fly ruler") crinitus ("long haired")

 

Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 27-40g  /  Length: 17-21cm  /  Wingspan: 34cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The only one of Costa Rica's five regular myiarchus flycatchers to be migratory, spending Summers in Eastern USA and Canada, then returning to Central America for the Winter. It is differentiated from the other species visually by a pink base to its bill, barred wings and reddish on the tail and wings.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Myiarchus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Copetón Viajero 
A common and widespread winter visitor
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Myiozetetes ("fly searcher") similis ("similar")

 

Social Flycatcher (Myiozetetes similis) at Alajuela, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Myiozetetes similis texensis
Weight: 24-27g  /  Length: 16-18.5cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

With a similar colour palette to the bolder and louder Great Kiskadee, it can be somewhat easy to skim over the more timid social flycatcher, but it is still in itself a widespread and adaptable species. They are versatile with altitude being found over 2200m and have a varied diet which includes invertebrates, berries and even the occasional small vertebrate like tadpoles.
 

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Myiozetetes
SUBSPECIES: M. s. primulus, M. s. hesperis, M. s. texensis, M. s. columbianus, M. s. similis, M. s. grandis, M. s. pallidiventris

- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Mosquero Cejiblanco
Common resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Tody-flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Todirostrum ("tody beak") cinereum ("ash grey")

 

Common Tody-flycatcher (Todirostrum cinereum) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Todirostrum cinereum finitimum
Weight: 4-8g  /  Length: 8.8-10cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread species that is found from Mexico to Paraguay, but because it doesn't inhabit dense forest is actually absent from a huge proportion of the Amazon core. They often feed in pairs of small family groups foraging at relatively low levels for invertibrates to eat. They are capable on an incredibly fast "tic" call which they can repeat up to 110 times a minute in the breeding season.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Todirostrum
SUBSPECIES: T. c. virididorsale, T. c. finitimum, T. c. wetmorei, T. c. sclateri, T. c. cinereum, T. c. peruanum, T. c. coloreum, T. c. cearae 

 - Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican) - Espatulilla Común
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Mountain Elaenia (Elaenia frantzii)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Elaenia ("of olive oil") frantzii (for naturalist Alexander von Frantzius)

Mountain Elaenia (Elaenia frantzii) at San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Elaenia frantzii frantzii
Weight: 14-24g  /  Length: 14-15cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small tyrant flycatcher found in cloudforests from Guatemala to Colombia. While they are flycatchers, they do consume a larger proportion of fruit in their diet than most species in tyrannidae. Their taxonomy is somewhat unresolved with the possibility of the species being split in two - one as the Central American species, one as the South American species.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Elaenia
SUBSPECIES: E. f. ultima, E. f. frantzii, E. f. browni, E. f. pudica
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Elainia Montañera
Resident of forest above 1200m
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes oleagineus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Mionectes ("having too little") oleagineus ("olive coloured")

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher (Mionectes oleagineus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Mionectes oleagineus assimilis
Weight: 7.5-18.5g  /  Length: 12.5-14cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A rather plain and drab flycatcher of the Neotropics with the bulk of it's range comprising the Amazon Rainforest. Unusually, it has a mixed breeding strategy, where roughly half the population finds mates via leks where they display communally, while the other half find mates solo.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Mionectes
SUBSPECIES: M. o . assimilis, M. o. parcus, M. o. abdominalis, M. o. pallidiventris, M. o. dorsalis, M. o. pacificus, M. o. oleagineus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Mosquerito Aceitunado
A common resident.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Myiarchus ("fly ruler") tuberculifer ("small bump") 

Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Myiarchus tuberculifer nigricapillus
Weight: 14-27g  /  Length: 15-17cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distributed species found from the Southern US to Brazil and Argentina, they are quite variable across the range with some populations having the namesake "dusky" cap as near black while in other it is brown. An unusually altitudinally variable species, it ranges from sea level to in some parts of its range, nearly 3000m!
 

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Myiarchus
SUBSPECIES: M. t. olivascens, M. t. lawrenceii, M. t. querulous, M. t. platyrhynchus, M. t. manens, M. t. connectens, M. t. littoralis, M. t. nigricapillus, M. t. brunneiceps, M. t. pallidus, M. t. tuberculifer, M. t. nigriceps, M. t. atriceps

 

- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rican) - Copetón Crestioscuro
A widespread and common resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") flaviventris ("yellow bellied")

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) at Location, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 8.5-17g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 18-20cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

With a breeding range comprising most of Canadas wet boreal forests as well as and Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, then migrating to Central America in Winter. They nest near ground level in cup like strucutres made of sphagnum moss. 

Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Mosquero Ventriamarillo

A widespread Wintering species.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus)

OTHER NAMES: Northern Streaked Flycatcher
Latin Etymology: Myiodynastes ("fly ruler") maculatus maculatus ("spotted")  

Streaked Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Myiodynastes maculatus difficilis
Weight: 35-50g  /  Length: 20-23cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

A species with unresolved taxonomy, with the solitarius subspecies possibly representing it's own species known as the Southern Streaked Flycatcher. They are a larger flycatcher species and will target larger prey such as cicadas, locusts and beetles, as well as small lizards on occasion. They prefer the edges of forests but are not selective about the type being found from mangroves to over 1000ft in altitude.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Myiodynastes

SUBSPECIES: M. insolens, M. m. difficilis, M. m. nobilis, M. m. chapmani, M. m. maculatus,M. m. tobagensis, M. m. solitarius 

- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Mosquero Listado ("Striped Flycatcher")
A widespread resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and Alajuela 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pitangus (name for a species in Tupi language) sulphuratus ("sulphur coloured")

 

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Pitangus sulphuratus guatimalensis
Weight: 53-71g  /  Length: 25-28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread species found from Southern Texas to Patagonia in every mainland country except Chile. On my visit to Costa Rica I personally found them to perhaps the most archetypal species of my birding there where their call for part of which they are named for ("kisssk-A-deeeee") being a common background sound to my time there. They often perch on exposed posts and branches to hunt from.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Pitangus
SUBSPECIES: P. s. texanus, P. s. derbianus, P. s. guatimalensis, P. s. rufipennis, P. s. caucensis, P. s. trinitatis, P. s. sulphuratus, P. s. maximiliani, P. s. bolivianus, P. s. argentinus 

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Benteveo

Widespread and Common Resident
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles, Alajuela and San Jose. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tyrannus ("absolute ruler") melancholicus ("bad tempered")

 

Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Tyrannus melancholicus satrapa
Weight: 39g  /  Length: 22cm  /  Wingspan: 34-41cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the most widespread and common species of Costa Rica, and indeed Central to South America, with the only continental country from Mexico Southwards it's absent from is Chile. They are primarily insectivores, swooping from exposed perches such as branches or overhead wires to catch insects in mid air, although they will also take fruit. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tyrannus
SUBSPECIES: T. m. satrapa, T. m. despotes, T. m. melancholicus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish (Costa Rica) - Tirano Tropical (Tropical Tyrant)

Widespread and Common
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and Alajuela

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tolmomyias ("courageous flycatcher") sulphurescens ("sulphur yellow")

 

Yellow-olive Flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Tolmomyias sulphurescens cinereiceps
Weight: 14.5-15g  /  Length: 12.5-14cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widely distributed species found from the Yucatan to Argentina, mostly only absent from high mountain ranges in between. There is some suggestion it may be split it in the future due to the number and variation among the subspecies. It joins mixed species feeding flocks, but seemed to be more timid than other species found in that context.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tolmomyias
SUBSPECIES: T. s. cinereiceps, T. s. flavoolivaceus, T. s. berlepschi, T. s. exortivus, T. s. asemus, T. s. confusus, T. s. duidae, T. s. aequatorialis, T. s. cherriei, T. s. peruvianus, T. s. insignis, T. s. mixtus,T. s. inornatus, T. s. pallescens, T. s. grisescens, T. s. sulphurescens

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Picoplano Sulfuroso
A widespread and fairly common species.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Megarynchus ("large bill") pitangua (from Tupi name for species)

 

Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua) at Carara National Park, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Megarynchus pitangua mexicanus
Weight: 53-70g  /  Length: 21.5cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A particularly large member of the tyrant flycatchers with a distinctive large bill that is uses for preying on large invertibrates such as cicadas, but will also eat fruit and small vertebrates. It has similar plumage to the also locally common great kiskadee and social flycatcher, but the huge beak is diagnostic although equally, I found it the least confiding of the three species with this photo representing my only good view.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Megarhynchus
SUBSPECIES: M. p. tardiusculus, M. p. caniceps, M. p. mexicanus, M. p. deserticola, M. p. pitangua, M. p. chrysogaster
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Bienteveo Pitanguá

Widespread and common
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Carara National Park and Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Black-capped Flycatcher (Empidonax atriceps)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") atriceps ("dark head")

Black-capped Flycatcher (Empidonax atriceps) at San Gerardo de Dota - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 9g /  Length: 10-12cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

An endemic of the Talamancan Montane Forests in Costa Rica and Panama, they are found above 1850m, particularly in Oak Forests, and are largely sedentary, although their may be some seasonal altitudinal movement. As is usual for empidonax flycatchers, it hunts by hawking from a set post to catch insects in flight.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Mosquero Cabecinegro
Common in Montane Forests
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Gerardo de Dota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sayornis ("Thomas Say's bird") phoebe (possibly onoematopaic for call?)

Adult  Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) at Valley View, Illinois, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 16-21g  /  Length: 14-17cm  /  Wingspan: 26-28cm
NO UK STATUS/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A fairly widespread species of woodland, particularly near water - they have adjusted well to the Anthropocene due to their ability to utilise human structures to nest and have increased in population since the middle of last century. They are primarily insctivores, taking much of their prey on the wing when stooping from an exposed perch.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Sayornis
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 
Found in Eastern half of the US, breeding in north east, wintering in south east, resident between.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in Illinois

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopus virens)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Contopus ("shaft foot") virens ("green")

Alex Holt · Eastern Wood Pewee

Eastern Wood Pewee (Contopus virens) heard at Tomah, Wisconsin, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 14g  /  Length: 13-15cm  /  Wingspan: 9-10cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Pewee's get their name from their call, which in the case of the birds we heard while camping in Wisconsin, were a very theatrical "Peeee-ahhh-WEE" However, despite being able to head a number of them around the site I never actually reliably laid eyes upon one, and thus, for now at least, we must make do with a call only entry. There is only a very narrow band of overlap between it and the Western Wood Pewee which as the name suggests, occupies the Western US.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Contopus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds in North Eastern States of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Heard in Wisconsin and Illinois

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)

OTHER NAMES: Chebec, Chebecker
Latin Etymology: Empidonax ("mosquito lord") minimus ("smallest")

Adult Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) at Buffalo Creek State Park, Minnesota, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A 
Weight: 10g  /  Length: 12-14cm  /  Wingspan: 19-22cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest member of the infamous Empidonax flycatcher complex in Eastern North America. They migrate to Central America for Winter.  While they can be differentiated in the field visually by experienced birders, I must admit I relied on audio recognition software to confirm the ID based on it's more distinctive song.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Breeds primarily in Northern Border States of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Several in Minnesota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology:  Tyrannus ("absolute ruler") verticalis ("crown of head")

Adult Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) at North Dakota - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 40g  /  Length: 20-24cm  /  Wingspan: 39cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A more colourful species than the Eastern Kingbird, with a lemon-yellow belly, like their counterpart they also aggressively defend their territory from larger birds like hawks.  Their range is centred on the US in Summer, but in Winter they migrate to Central America and the tip of Florida. This range has expanded thanks to humans as planting trees on the Great Plains has allowed them to spread into habitat previously unsuited.

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tyrannus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Summer breeding species across the Western USA
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in North Dakota

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Tyrannus ("absolute ruler") tyrannus ("absolute ruler")

Adult Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) at Buffalo Creek National Park, Minnesota, US - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 33-55g /  Length: 19-23cm  /  Wingspan: 33-38cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The more common of the two Kingbird species seen on the trip, the Eastern Kingbird was fairly conspicuous a presence as they perch prominantly near their nest sites. Despite being a member of the usually small and timid flycatcher family, eastern kingbirds have a reputation as aggressive defenders of their territories from species like corvids, and as such other small birds will often nest near them for the security benefits. 

Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Tyrannus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

CANADA - Found across most ofthe Southern half of Canada
  - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: - Seen in Alberta.

UNITED STATES - Summer breeding species across all but the South-West of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana

 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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