| Piratic flycatcher | |
|---|---|
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| Legatus leucophaius - Piratic Flycatcher | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Tyrannidae |
| Genus: | Legatus P.L. Sclater, 1859 |
| Species: | L. leucophaius |
| Binomial name | |
| Legatus leucophaius (Vieillot, 1818) | |
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Breeding Year-round | |
Thepiratic flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius) is apasserinebird, the only member of the genusLegatus. It is a resident breeder from southernMexico andTrinidad south toBolivia andArgentina. At least some birds fromCentral America and Trinidad aremigratory, and this species also visitsTobago.
Thistyrant flycatcher is found in savannah and other semi-open habitat with large trees. It gets its name because it does not build its own nest, but appropriates the domed or enclosed nests of other, often far larger, bird species, such asyellow-rumped cacique orcrested oropendola. Once the persistence of the flycatchers has driven the rightful owners away, their eggs are removed, and the female flycatcher lays up to four, but usually two, black-streaked brown eggs. She incubates these on her own for 16 days to hatching, with a further 18–20 days to fledging.
The adult piratic flycatcher is 15 cm long and weighs 23 g. The upperparts are unstreaked plain brown, although the flight feathers have narrow white edges. The head has a long whitish supercilium, a concealed yellow crown stripe, and a dusky mask through the eyes. The throat is white, and there is a white malar stripe. The underparts are whitish with touches of light yellow, besides blurred brownish streaking on the breast and flanks. The dark bill is short and broad.
The call is an upslurredweeEEE given from a high perch for long periods of the day, or sometimes a monotonousweep weep weep.
Piratic flycatchers wait on an exposed perch high in a tree, occasionallysallying out to feed onfruit (such asberries),[2] their staple diet, as well as thecatkins ofCecropia andinsects (such asdragonflies).[3] The young are fed on insects.
