Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
This species is not endangered at the present time.
US Migratory Bird Act: no special status
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Piratic Flycatchers are omnivores which feed mostly on insects. They gather berries that will later be used for nutritional purposes and feed on green catkins of Cecropia. The insect that Piratic Flycatchers mainly prey on are dragonflies. These birds wait on exposed tree limbs till they notice prey, then fly out to attack.
(Stiles and Skutch, 1989; Land, 1970)
Animal Foods: insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Plant Foods: fruit; flowers
Primary Diet: omnivore
Piratic Flycatchers, Legatus leucophaius, are most commonly found in Mexico and from northern Argentina to southern Brazil. They often migrate to Costa Rica between the months of January and February. Piratic Flycatchers overwinter in southern Brazil and Argentina between the months of September and March.
(Elizondo, 2000; Land, 1970)
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ); neotropical (Native )
Piratic Flycatchers frequently occupy the semi-open country, cultivated areas with tall trees, and the forest edge. These birds are hard to observe since they remain high up in the trees. In Costa Rica, Piratic Flycatchers reside on secondary savannahs or coffee plantations.
(Elizondo, 2000; Land, 1970)
Habitat Regions: tropical
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest
Other Habitat Features: agricultural
Piratic Flycatchers range in length from 14.5 to 15 cm (5.7 to 5.9 in) and are about 26 g (.9 oz) in weight. Adult Piratic Flycatchers have a dark olive green or brown coloring with a semi-colored patch of yellow on their bodies and dusty colored cranial regions. These birds have wings with pale yellow edgings and slightly lighter colorings than the body. The tail of the Piratic Flycatchers are dark cinnamon, almost black in color. They have a whitish throat which ultimately turns yellow as it moves down toward the lower belly. Brown striping is evident on the breast. The bill of the Piratic Flycatchers are broad at the base and short in length. These flycatchers possess a whitish line above the eyes, along the lower part of the head. When young, the Piratic Flycatchers are similar in color, but have less streaking on their breasts and have lighter color edging on the wings.
(Ffrench, 1973) (Stiles and Skutch, 1989) (Dunning, 1993)
Range mass: 19 to 31.5 g.
Average mass: 26 g.
Range length: 14.5 to 15 cm.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Though little research has been conducted on the Piratic Flycatcher concerning predation, we can assume that small treee snakes and other species that live high up in the trees are its predators.
Piratic Flycatchers breed between the months of February and August. They wait till other flycatchers construct their nests, then force them to abandon the area. These nests are located high up in trees. Piratic Flycatchers annoy their victims to the point of distraction, remove any remaining eggs that inhabit the nest, and utilize the nest for their needs. They annoy their victims by entering the nests numerous times during the day and bothering the birds. Piratic Flycatchers rarely attack their victims, but rather provoke fights. The nests which the Piratic Flycatchers inhabit are enclosed and have a dome shape to them. These birds frequently add leaves to the nests to aid in cushion and warmth.
Piratic Flycatchers usually lay 2 to 3 eggs at one time; occasionally up to as many as 4 eggs. The eggs are a dark brown color and have scattered black spots on them. Subtle black lines are also present on the larger end of the egg. The eggs range in size from 16 to 22.5 mm (.6 to .8 in.). Female Piratic Flycatchers incubate alone for a period of 15 to 16 days. After 18 to 20 days, the young Piratic Flycatchers leave the nest and begin a life of their own. From this point on, the young birds do not rely on their parents for food or shelter.
(Schmalz, 2001; Ffrench, 1973; Stiles and Skutch, 1989)
Breeding season: February-August
Range eggs per season: 2 to 4.
Range time to hatching: 15 to 16 days.
Range fledging age: 18 to 20 days.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous
When the young hatch, the female provides warmth for them and they are fed evenly by both parents.
Parental Investment: altricial ; male parental care ; female parental care
The piratic flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius) is a passerine bird, the only member of the genus Legatus. It is a resident breeder from southern Mexico and Trinidad south to Bolivia and Argentina. At least some birds from Central America and Trinidad are migratory, and this species also visits Tobago.
This tyrant 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 as yellow-rumped cacique or crested 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 upslurred weeEEE given from a high perch for long periods of the day, or sometimes a monotonous weep weep weep.
Piratic flycatchers wait on an exposed perch high in a tree, occasionally sallying out to feed on fruit (such as berries),[2] their staple diet, as well as the catkins of Cecropia and insects (such as dragonflies).[3] The young are fed on insects.
The piratic flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius) is a passerine bird, the only member of the genus Legatus. It is a resident breeder from southern Mexico and Trinidad south to Bolivia and Argentina. At least some birds from Central America and Trinidad are migratory, and this species also visits Tobago.
This tyrant 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 as yellow-rumped cacique or crested 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.
