- Tyrant flycatcher
Taxobox
name = Tyrant flycatchers
image_width = 240px
image_caption =Scissor-tailed Flycatcher "Tyrannus forficatus"
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
subordo =Tyranni
familia = Tyrannidae
familia_authority = Vigors, 1825
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = Some 100, see text
range_
range_map_width = 240px
range_map_caption = Distribution of tyrant flycatchersThe tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae) are a family of
passerine bird s which occur throughout North andSouth America , but are mainly tropical in distribution. They are now considered the largest family ofbird s on earth, with around 400 species. In every country in theAmericas , except for theUnited States andCanada , they are the most diverse avian family. As could be expected from a family this large, the members vary greatly both in shape, patterns and colours. Some Tyrant flycatchers superficially resemble theOld World flycatcher s. They are members of suborderTyranni (suboscines) that do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of thesongbird s.Most, but not all, are rather plain, and many have erectile crests. As the name implies, most are insectivorous, but some will eat
fruit or smallvertebrates (e.g. smallfrogs ). The smallest family members are the closely relatedShort-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant andBlack-capped Pygmy-Tyrant . With a total length of a mere 6.5-6.8 cm (2.5-2.7 in) and a weight of 4-5 grams, they are the smallestpasserine s on earth. The largest tyrant flycatcher is theGreat Shrike-Tyrant at 29 cm (11.5 in) and 88 grams (3.1 oz). A few species such as theStreamer-tailed Tyrant andFork-tailed Flycatcher have a larger total length, but this is mainly due to their very long tails.A number of species previously included in this family are now placed in the family
Tityridae ("see Systematics").Habitat and distribution
Species richness of Tyrannidae, when compared to habitat, is highly variable. The habitats of tropical lowland evergreen forest and montane evergreen forest have the highest single site species diversity while many habitats includingriver s,palm forest , white sand forest, tropical deciduous forest edge, southern temperate forest, southern temperate forest edge, semi-humid/humid montane scrub, and northern temperategrassland have the lowest single species diversity. The variation between the highest and the lowest is extreme; ninety species can be found in the tropical lowland evergreen forests while the number of species that can be found in the habitats listed above typically are in the single digits. This may be due in part to the fewer niches found in certain areas and therefore fewer places for the species to occupy.Tyrannidae
specialization among habitat is very strong intropical lowland evergreen forests andmontane evergreen forests . These habitat types therefore display the greatest specialization. The counts differ by three species (tropical lowland evergreen forests have 49 endemic species and montane evergreen forests have 46 endemic species). It can be assumed that they both have similar levels of specialization.Regionally, the
Atlantic Forest has the highestspecies richness with the Chocó following closely behind.Protected status
The Northern Beardless Tyrannulet ("Camptostoma imberbe") and the Rose-throated Becard ("Pachyramphus aglaiae") are protected under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 . [http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/intrnltr/mbta/mbtandx.html] . Both these species are common south of theUS border. The situation for a number of other species from South and Central America is far more problematic. In 2007,BirdLife International (and consequentlyIUCN ) considered two species, theMinas Gerais Tyrannulet andKaempfer's Tody-Tyrant critically endangered . Both are endemic toBrazil . Additional, 7 species were consideredendangered and 18 species vulnerable. [BirdLife International (2007). Species factsheets. Accessed 12 December 2007 [http://www.birdlife.org/ available online] ]ystematics
There are about 400
species in over 100 genera. A full list, sortable by common and binomial names is atlist of tyrant flycatchers . Species in the genera "Tityra ", "Pachyramphus ", "Laniocera " and "Xenopsaris " have been placed in this family, but evidence strongly suggest they belong inTityridae [ [http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop313.html Adopt the Family Tityridae] - South American Classification Committee (2007)] , where now placed by SACC.* Genus "
Ornithion " (3 species)
* Genus "Camptostoma " (2 species)
* Genus "Phaeomyias " - Mouse-colored Tyrannulet
* Genus "Nesotriccus " - Cocos Island Flycatcher
* Genus "Capsiempis " - Yellow Tyrannulet
* Genus "Tyrannulus " - Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet
* Genus "Myiopagis " (7 species)
* Genus "Pseudelaenia " - Gray-and-white Tyrannulet
* Genus "Elaenia " (18 species)
* Genus "Serpophaga " (5 species)
* Genus "Mionectes " (5 species)
* Genus "Leptopogon " (4 species)
* Genus "Pseudotriccus " (3 species)
* Genus "Phylloscartes " (23 species)
* Genus "Phyllomyias " (13 species)
* Genus "Zimmerius " (7 species)
* Genus "Sublegatus " (3 species)
* Genus "Suiriri " (2 species)
* Genus "Mecocerculus " (6 species)
* Genus "Inezia " (4 species)
* Genus "Stigmatura " (2 species)
* Genus "Uromyias " - sometimes included in "Anairetes" (2 species)
* Genus "Anairetes " - typical tit-tyrants (6 species)
* Genus "Tachuris " - Many-colored Rush-tyrant
* Genus "Culicivora " - Sharp-tailed Grass-Tyrant
* Genus "Polystictus " (2 species)
* Genus "Pseudocolopteryx " (4 species)
* Genus "Euscarthmus " (2 species)
* Genus "Myiornis " (4 species)
* Genus "Lophotriccus " (5 species)
* Genus "Oncostoma " (2 species)
* Genus "Poecilotriccus " (12 species)
* Genus "Taeniotriccus " - Black-chested Tyrant
* Genus "Hemitriccus " - typical tody-tyrants (20 species)
* Genus "Todirostrum " - typical tody-flycatchers (7 species, others now in "Poecilotriccus")
* Genus "Corythopis " - antpipits (2 species)
* Genus "Cnipodectes " (2 species)
* Genus "Ramphotrigon " (3 species)
* Genus "Rhynchocyclus " (4 species)
* Genus "Tolmomyias " (5 species)
* Genus "Platyrinchus " - spadebills (7 species)
* Genus "Onychorhynchus " - Royal Flycatchers (1-4 species, depending on taxonomy)
* Genus "Myiotriccus " - Ornate Flycatcher
* Genus "Myiophobus " (9 species)
* Genus "Terenotriccus " - Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher
* Genus "Myiobius " (5 species)
* Genus "Neopipo " - Cinnamon Tyrant
* Genus "Pyrrhomyias " - Cinnamon Flycatcher
* Genus "Hirundinea " - Cliff Flycatcher and Swallow Flycatcher
* Genus "Cnemotriccus " - Fuscous Flycatcher
* Genus "Lathrotriccus " (2 species)
* Genus "Aphanotriccus " (2 species)
* Genus "Xenotriccus " (2 species)
* Genus "Mitrephanes " (2 species)
* Genus "Contopus " - pewees (14 species)
* Genus "Empidonax " (15 species)
* Genus "Sayornis " - phoebes (3 species)
* Genus "Pyrocephalus " - Vermilion Flycatcher
* Genus "Silvicultrix " (3 species)
* Genus "Ochthoeca " (9 species)
* Genus "Tumbezia " - Tumbes Tyrant
* Genus "Colorhamphus " - Patagonian Tyrant
* Genus "Ochthornis " - Drab Water-tyrant
* Genus "Cnemarchus " - Red-rumped Bush-tyrant
* Genus "Myiotheretes " (4 species)
* Genus "Xolmis " (8 species, including "Heteroxolmis")
* Genus "Neoxolmis " - Chocolate-vented Tyrant
* Genus "Agriornis " - shrike-tyrants (5 species)
* Genus "Polioxolmis " - Rufous-webbed Tyrant
* Genus "Muscisaxicola " - ground-tyrants (13 species)
* Genus "Muscigralla " - Short-tailed Field-tyrant
* Genus "Lessonia" (2 species)
* Genus "Knipolegus " - black-tyrants (11 species)
* Genus "Hymenops " - Spectacled Tyrant
* Genus "Fluvicola " - typical water-tyrants (3 species)
* Genus "Arundinicola " - White-headed Marsh-tyrant
* Genus "Alectrurus " (2 species)
* Genus "Gubernetes " - Streamer-tailed Tyrant
* Genus "Satrapa " - Yellow-browed Tyrant
* Genus "Colonia" - Long-tailed Tyrant
* Genus "Machetornis " - Cattle Tyrant
* Genus "Muscipipra " - Shear-tailed Gray Tyrant
* Genus "Attila" - attilas (7-8 species)
* Genus "Casiornis " (2 species)
* Genus "Sirystes " - Sirystes
* Genus "Rhytipterna " (3 species)
* Genus "Myiarchus " (22 species)
* Genus "Deltarhynchus " - Flammulated Flycatcher
* Genus "Pitangus " - kiskadees (2 species, includes "Philohydor")
* Genus "Megarynchus " - Boat-billed Flycatcher
* Genus "Myiozetetes " (4-5 species)
* Genus "Conopias " (4 species)
* Genus "Myiodynastes " (5 species)
* Genus "Legatus" - Piratic Flycatcher
* Genus "Phelpsia " - White-bearded Flycatcher
* Genus "Empidonomus " - Variegated Flycatcher
* Genus "Griseotyrannus " - Crowned Slaty Flycatcher (formerly in "Empidonomus")
* Genus "Tyrannopsis " - Sulphury Flycatcher
* Genus "Tyrannus " - kingbirds (13 species)References
External links
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=115 Tyrant Flycatcher videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
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