Vermilion Flycatcher

bird · flyer · colorful

Bright red males. Male vermilion flycatchers are stunning with brilliant red crowns, chests, and underparts, while females are much drabber and harder to spot in the wild.

Flying hunters. These birds are aerial insectivores, meaning they catch insects while zooming through the air rather than picking them off branches.

Funny song. Their song sounds like pit pit pit pidddrrrreeedrr, and they use it to claim their territory and tell other birds to stay away.

Water-loving homes. Vermilion flycatchers prefer riparian habitats near rivers and semi-open environments where they can spot flying insects easily.

Long feather change. These birds molt for several months starting in summer, shedding and regrowing their feathers to stay healthy and strong.