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Class Aves
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Contopus sordidulus—Western Wood Pewee // Empidonax—Empidonax Flycatchers // Sayornis sp.—Phoebes // Sayornis nigricans—Black Phoebe // Sayornis saw—Say's Phoebe // Tyrannus verticalis—Western Flycatcher // Tyrannus vociferus—Cassin's Flycatcher

Tyrannidae—Tyrant Flycatchers

The Tyrannidae tends to be set off somewhat from the rest of the Passeriformes. Typically, the flycatchers perch until a flying insect appears, at which time they launch into flight and pick their prey from mid-air.

Contopus sordidulus (Sclater 1859)—Western Wood Pewee

Sites. Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Empidonax sp.—Empidonax Flycatchers

Sites.

Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009).

Late Wisconsin: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Guthrie 2009; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Sayornis sp.—Phoebes

Sites.

Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009).

Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Sayornis nigricans Swainson 1827—Black Phoebe

Sites.

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Sayornis saya (Bonaparte 1825)—Say's Phoebe

Say's Phoebe currently is common in the region, though it tends to avoid heavily forested areas (Ligon 1961).

Sites.

Mid Wisconsin-Holocene: Shelter Cave (Howard and Miller 1933).

Late Wisconsin/Holocene: Stanton's Cave (Rea and Hargrave 1984).

Literature. Howard and Miller 1933; Rea and Hargrave 1984.

Tyrannus verticalis Say 1823—Western Kingbird

Sites.

Wisconsin: Carpinteria (Guthrie 2009).

Literature. Guthrie 2009.

Tyrannus vociferans (Swainson, 1826)—Cassin's Kingbird

Sites.

Mid/Late Wisconsin: Rancho La Brea (Stock and Harris 1992).

Literature. Stock and Harris 1992.

Last Update: 27 Dec 2013