Tyrant Flycatchers: Family Tyrannidae

Tyrannidae: Tyrant Flycatchers

The name suggests it and the species in this family deliver it. These birds are insect specialists. Most of the birds in this family specialize in catching insects mid-air, but many have found their own niches. In fact, much of the diversity that has evolved within this family is a direct result of various insect hunting strategies. If you consider the diversity of insects on the planet, you can understand why so many niches exist for specialists such as the flycatchers!

Birds that strike upwards tend to have wider bills and shorter wings. Birds that attack from a perch or on the ground tend to have narrower bills and longer legs. Hawkers (those birds hunting in flight) tend to have triangular bills, very long wings, and short legs. All of these species are extremely agile fliers. Isn't evolution great?

Tyrant flycatchers are the most diverse family of birds in North and South America (The New World). These birds include 97 genera and over 400 species! These species tend to be on the drab side as far as color is concerned. They range from pale- yellow and gray to olive green and many of these species look so similar that the only distinguishing characteristic is their song. Genera in this family include:

Genus Ornithion (2 Tyrannulet Species)
Genus Camptostoma  (3 Tyrannulet Species)
Genus Phaeomyias  (Mouse-colored Tyrannulet)
Genus Nesotriccus  (Cocos Island Flycatcher)
Genus Capsiempis  (Yellow Tyrannulet)
Genus Tyrannulus  (Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet)
Genus Myiopagis  (Elaenias)
Genus Pseudelaenia  (Gray-and-white Tyrannulet)
Genus Elaenia  (South American Elaenias)
Genus Serpophaga  (6 Tyrannulet Species)
Genus Mionectes  (6 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Leptopogon  (4 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Pseudotriccus (3 Pygmy Tyrant Species)
Genus Phylloscartes  (23 Tyrannulet and Bristle-Tyrant Species)
Genus Phyllomyias  (14 Tyrannulet Species)
Genus Zimmerius  (8 Tyrannulet Species)
Genus Sublegatus (3 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Suiriri (2 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Mecocerculus (6 Tyrannulet Species)
Genus Inezia  (Inezias)
Genus Stigmatura  (Wag-tailed Tyrants)
Genus Anairetes  (Tit-tyrants)
Genus Tachuris  (Many-colored Rush-tyrant)
Genus Culicivora  (Sharp-tailed Grass-Tyrant)
Genus Polystictus (Tachuris)
Genus Pseudocolopteryx  (Doraditos)
Genus Euscarthmus  (2 Pygmy Tyrant Species)
Genus Myiornis  (4 Pygmy Tyrant Species)
Genus Lophotriccus  (5 Pygmy Tyrant Species)
Genus Oncostoma  (Bentbills)
Genus Poecilotriccus (Tody-Flycatchers)
Genus Taeniotriccus  (Black-chested Tyrant)
Genus Hemitriccus  (Typical tody-tyrants)
Genus Todirostrum  (Typical tody-flycatchers)
Genus Corythopis  (Antpipits)
Genus Cnipodectes  (Twistwings)
Genus Ramphotrigon  (2 Flatbill Species)
Genus Rhynchocyclus  (4 Flatbill Species)
Genus Tolmomyias  (5 Flatbill Species)
Genus Platyrinchus  (Spadebills)
Genus Onychorhynchus  (Royal Flycatchers)
Genus Myiotriccus  (Ornate Flycatcher)
Genus Myiophobus (9 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Terenotriccus  (Ruddy-tailed Flycatcher)
Genus Myiobius  (Myiobius)
Genus Neopipo  (Cinnamon Tyrant)
Genus Pyrrhomyias  (Cinnamon Flycatcher)
Genus Hirundinea  (Cliff Flycatcher and Swallow Flycatcher)
Genus Cnemotriccus  (Fuscous Flycatcher)
Genus Lathrotriccus  (2 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Aphanotriccus  (2 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Xenotriccus  (2 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Mitrephanes  (Tufted Flycatchers)
Genus Contopus  (Pewees)
Genus Empidonax  (15 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Sayornis  (Phoebes)
Genus Pyrocephalus  (Vermilion Flycatcher)
Genus Ochthoeca  (Chat-Tyrants)
Genus Tumbezia  (Tumbes Tyrant)
Genus Colorhamphus  (Patagonian Tyrant)
Genus Ochthornis  (Drab Water-tyrant)
Genus Cnemarchus  (Red-rumped Bush-tyrant)
Genus Myiotheretes  (Bush-Tyrants)
Genus Xolmis  (Monjitas)
Genus Neoxolmis  (Chocolate-vented Tyrant)
Genus Agriornis  (Shrike-tyrants)
Genus Polioxolmis  (Rufous-webbed Tyrant)
Genus Muscisaxicola  (Ground-tyrants)
Genus Muscigralla  (Short-tailed Field-tyrant)
Genus Lessonia  (Negritos)
Genus Knipolegus  (Black-tyrants)
Genus Hymenops  (Spectacled Tyrant)
Genus Fluvicola  (Typical water-tyrants)
Genus Arundinicola  (White-headed Marsh-tyrant)
Genus Alectrurus  (2 Tyrant Species)
Genus Gubernetes  (Streamer-tailed Tyrant)
Genus Satrapa  (Yellow-browed Tyrant)
Genus Colonia  (Long-tailed Tyrant)
Genus Machetornis  (Cattle Tyrant)
Genus Muscipipra  (Shear-tailed Gray Tyrant)
Genus Attila  (Attilas)
Genus Casiornis  (Casiornis)
Genus Sirystes  (Sirystes)
Genus Rhytipterna  (Mourners)
Genus Myiarchus  (22 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Deltarhynchus  (Flammulated Flycatcher)
Genus Pitangus  (Kiskadees)
Genus Megarynchus  (Boat-billed Flycatcher)
Genus Myiozetetes  (4 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Conopias  (4 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Myiodynastes  (5 Flycatcher Species)
Genus Legatus  (Piratic Flycatcher)
Genus Phelpsia  (White-bearded Flycatcher)
Genus Empidonomus  (Variegated Flycatcher)
Genus Griseotyrannus  (Crowned Slaty Flycatcher)
Genus Tyrannopsis  (Sulphury Flycatcher)
Genus Tyrannus  (Kingbirds)

To get an idea of how diverse this group can be and equally how 'eco-geeky' taxonomists can be, look at how many of these species are commonly known as Tyrannulets (Small Tyrants), Pygmy Tyrants (which also means Small Tyrants) and Flycatchers, and how many genera they encompass. Adaptive radiation is incredible!