Cliff Flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea)

Identification & Behavior: ~18.5 cm (7.2 in). The Cliff Flycatcher has brown upperparts and tail. The sides of the head, face, and throat are grizzled with gray and dusky. The underparts are rufous. The flight and tail feathers have extensive rufous webbing readily shown when the bird is in flight. It is similar to the Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant but is segregated by habitat type and elevation. The Cliff Flycatcher favors humid habitats in montane forest at lower elevations.

Status: The Cliff Flycatcher is uncommon to fairly common on cliff faces in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 400-2200 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Tirano de Riscos.

Sub-species: Cliff Flycatcher (Hirundinea ferruginea sclateri), Reinhardt, 1870

Meaning of Name: Hirundinea: L. hirundo, hirundinis= swallow hirundineus of swallows and hirundineus= swallow-like. ferruginea: L. ferrugo, ferruginis= iron rust, ferrugineus= rusty-coloured, rusty, ferruginous.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae