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Home -> Kingdom Animalia -> Phylum Chordata -> Subphylum Vertebrata -> Class Aves -> Order Passeriformes -> Family Tyrannidae -> Species Empidonax flaviventris

Empidonax flaviventris
yellow-bellied flycatcher



2008/10/12 04:03:51.852 GMT-4

By Greg Ross

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Empidonax
Species: Empidonax flaviventris

Geographic Range

Yellow-bellied flycatchers breed from southern Arctic Canada, across Canada from east of the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic provinces and the north-easternmost states. In the spring

and fall, they migrate in the eastern half of the United States.

Their wintering grounds are in southern Central America.

Biogeographic Regions:
nearctic (native ); neotropical (native ).

Habitat

Yellow-bellied flycatchers can be found in forested areas and along foothills. They prefer moist environments such as bogs and

the edges of mixed wood and coniferous forests, particularly

near water bodies.

Terrestrial Biomes:
forest .

Physical Description

Mass
12 g (average)
(0.42 oz)


As the name suggests, Yellow-bellied flycatchers have yellow

bellies and throats. They are bright green on their backs. They

have light-colored rings around their eyes and wing bars. Flycatchers of the genus Empidonax, including Empidonax flaviventris, are monomorphic, the sexes look alike. There are

rictal bristles around the beak, which is fairly wide and flat.

Some key physical features:
endothermic ; bilateral symmetry .

Reproduction

Time to hatching
15 days (average)
[External Source: AnAge]


Empidonax flaviventris nests on or near the ground. The female

builds and lines a cup-shaped nest with mosses and plant material. A clutch of 3 to 5 white eggs with brown spots is laid. On average, each egg meausures 13x17 mm. Both male and female tend the young. Breeding occurs between May and late August.

Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous .

Behavior

All species of Empidonax behave similarly and are difficult to

distinguish based on this trait. The Yellow-bellied flycatcher

is quite secretive, and often difficult to observe because of

its tendency to hide in the shrubby layer near the forest floor.

It is also quite quiet during breeding season, not singing very

often. This makes it even more difficult to locate.

Key behaviors:
flies; motile .

Food Habits

The Yellow-bellied flycatcher is insectivorous, although it may

occasionally eat some berries. They pick insects off of foliage

or hawk, catching insects in the air and returning to a perch.

They tend to stay near the forest floor. Their rictal bristles

help to catch insects, and a hooked beak helps hold them.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known negative effects on humans or on any animal

species which we consider beneficial.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

The Yellow-bellied flycatcher has little impact on humans, other

than feeding on insects which we consider to be an annoyance.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List: [link]:
Least Concern.

US Migratory Bird Act: [link]:
Protected.

US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.

CITES: [link]:
No special status.

State of Michigan List: [link]:
No special status.

The Yellow-bellied flycatcher ranges from being common to uncommon on its breeding grounds, and is not often seen while migrating. This probably does not represent any threat of endangerment, but demonstrates that this is not a very visible species.

Contributors

Greg Ross (author), University of Alberta.
Cindy Paszkowski (editor), University of Alberta.

References

Das, M. 2000. Classification of Alberta Birds. Zool 301, University of Alberta: Mrinal Das.

Lanyon, S. 1998. Encyclopedia of Birds, pp. 166- 168.. San Diego, California.: Academia Press.

McGillivray, W., G. Semenchuk. 1998. Field Guide to Alberta Birds, p. 178. Altona, Manitoba: Federation of Alberta Naturalists.

Robbins, C., B. Bruun, H. Zim. 1983. Birds of North America, p.212. New York, New York: Golden Press.

2008/10/12 04:03:52.936 GMT-4

To cite this page: Ross, G. 2001. "Empidonax flaviventris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed October 12, 2008 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Empidonax_flaviventris.html.

Disclaimer: The Animal Diversity Web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Though we edit our accounts for accuracy, we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts. While ADW staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable, we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control.

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