Bird Description

Common and familiar in ones and twos anywhere with deciduous trees. Scare winter visitor in FL. Lives in the canopy, where it catches insects, or feeds on fruit and other goodies. Tough to see but vocal, far more often heard than seen, giving a raucous and far-carrying 'reep,' or rapid, repeated 'reep reep reep.' Often sits quietly, or flits around and hovers as it picks fruit. Like other Myiarchus, often tilts head to one side inquisitively. Frequently flies across open spaces to other trees, sometimes with a second bird in pursuit. ID: A large, sturdily built flycatcher with bright yellow belly. Long and slim, it also appears muscular with thick neck and large broad-based dark bill. Gray throat and upper breast contrast nicely with lemon-yellow lower underparts, often creating a hooded effect. Upperparts browner with obvious rufous tail and primary panel. Juv: rufous fringes to coverts. These are quickly molted to adult-like plumage.