Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Kiskadee
Philohydor lictor
Lesser Kiskadee (Philohydor lictor) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Kiskadee (Philohydor lictor) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 25.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Philohydor
- Species lictor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 25.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser Kiskadee is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Lesser Kiskadee is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesser Kiskadee (Philohydor lictor) is a species of bird in the Tyrannidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Panama to se Brazil.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 25.5 g, with a wing length of about 8.7 cm and a tail of around 7.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Kiskadee?
The Lesser Kiskadee is a small bird that weighs around 25.5 g.
Where does the Lesser Kiskadee live?
The Lesser Kiskadee is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Panama to se Brazil, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Lesser Kiskadee belong to?
The Lesser Kiskadee (Philohydor lictor) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Lesser Kiskadee eat?
The Lesser Kiskadee is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Lesser Kiskadee migrate?
The Lesser Kiskadee is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesser Kiskadee endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Lesser Kiskadee make?
1 real field recording of the Lesser Kiskadee — 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 Lesser Kiskadee's range?
The Lesser Kiskadee has a mapped global range of about 9.2 million 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
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
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.