flycatcher

Flycatcher is a common name for several groups of small to medium passerine birds that mainly catch flying insects. The term covers two major lineages that are not closely related: Old World flycatchers (family Muscicapidae) of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and the tyrant flycatchers (family Tyrannidae) of the Americas. Despite the shared hunting method, these groups arose independently and belong to different branches of the passerine tree.

Ecology and behavior: Most flycatchers perch and watch for insects, then sally forth to capture prey in midair or glean insects from foliage. Some specialize in hawking from a fixed perch or catching fruit outside the breeding season. Plumage varies by lineage, with many Old World species brown or gray and some with striking contrasts, while tyrant flycatchers are often gray or olive. Nests are usually cup-shaped in trees or shrubs; clutch size and parental care vary. Many are migratory, moving seasonally between breeding and wintering areas.

Taxonomy and examples: "Flycatcher" is a common name rather than a single evolutionary group. Old World flycatchers include genera such as Muscicapa and Ficedula; New World tyrant flycatchers include Tyrannus, Myiarchus, and Empidonax. Notable species include the European pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) and the Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus). The group faces threats from habitat loss and pesticide exposure in some regions but remains widespread and locally common.