Photo: Thibaud Aronson / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Flycatcher
Myiarchus semirufus
Rufous Flycatcher (Myiarchus semirufus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rufous Flycatcher (Myiarchus semirufus) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 22.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Myiarchus
- Species semirufus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 22.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Flycatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Rufous Flycatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Flycatcher (Myiarchus semirufus) belongs to the Tyrannidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA nw Peru.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 22.5 g, with a wing length of about 8.8 cm and a tail of around 8.8 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3,794 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Flycatcher?
The Rufous Flycatcher is a small bird that weighs around 22.5 g.
Where does the Rufous Flycatcher live?
The Rufous Flycatcher is found across South America with a range covering SA nw Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous Flycatcher belong to?
The Rufous Flycatcher (Myiarchus semirufus) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous Flycatcher eat?
The Rufous Flycatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous Flycatcher migrate?
The Rufous Flycatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous Flycatcher endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Rufous Flycatcher make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous Flycatcher — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rufous Flycatcher's range?
The Rufous Flycatcher has a mapped global range of about 3,794 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Tyrannidae
A field guide to the Tyrannidae family — 444 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.