Myiarchus cinerascens

Geographic Range

Ash-throated flycatchers ( Myiarchus cinerascens ) breed in the western coastal United States, they are commonly found as far east as mid-Texas and as far north as Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and western Colorado. Members of genus Myiarchus are often difficult to identify, however, those found in the far northwestern United States are usually ash-throated flycatchers. In the winter, they travel to southern California, Arizona, Mexico and Honduras. These birds are known to wander quite far from their normal range; many have been seen as far as Florida and the East Coast and although they are a western species, they appear in many eastern region field guides. These birds also maintain a permanent year-round presence in southern California, Baja California and areas of Mexico.

• Biogeographic Regions
• nearctic nearctic
  • native native
• neotropical neotropical
  • native native

Habitat

Ash-throated flycatchers are found in a variety of mostly dry habitats such as arid, open woodlands, dry woods, scrubby desert areas, thorn forests and oak savannas, all habitats that generally have mesquite , saguaro , pinyon pine , oak or juniper trees . Although they are found in a fairly wide range of habitats, they generally breed in dry lowland areas with available nesting cavities. Unlike great-crested flycatchers , ash-throated flycatchers forage closer to the ground in open habitats and often perch on twigs and low branches. These birds may be found at a variety of elevations, but they are commonly seen from sea level to about 2,500 meters.

• Habitat Regions
• temperate temperate
• tropical tropical

• Terrestrial Biomes
• scrub forest scrub forest

Physical Description

Ash-throated flycatchers are medium-sized members of genus Myiarchus , with an average body length of 19 to 21.5 cm. They have brown backs, grey wing bars, pale grey chests and throats, pale yellow bellies and black legs and feet. Their tail is long and rust colored, with dark tips. They have a short crest on their crown and a small, narrow bill. Ash-throated flycatchers are sexually monomorphic, although males tend to be slightly larger, with an average weight of 28.7 g, as compared to the average female weight of 27.2 g. Juveniles are generally paler and have a redder tail, but are otherwise similar to adults. Ash-throated flycatchers are often confused with other Myiarchus species, although they are the palest members of the group. They are very similar in color and size to nutting flycatchers , and are also often mistaken for great-crested and brown-crested flycatchers . Nutting flycatchers are slightly smaller, but are otherwise difficult to distinguish from ash-throated flycatchers visually. Great-crested and brown-crested flycatchers are larger and have longer bills; in addition, great-crested flycatchers have a yellow belly that extends through their chest, as opposed to the grey chest and throat displayed in ash-throated flycatchers.

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic endothermic
• bilateral symmetry bilateral symmetry

• Sexual Dimorphism
• sexes alike

Reproduction

There is very little information available about the mating behavior of ash-throated flycatchers; however, these birds likely form monogamous breeding pairs and probably mate in flight.

• Mating System
• monogamous monogamous

The breeding range of ash-throated flycatchers spans from southern Mexico to Oregon. They are not extremely picky about where they nest, although their nesting sites must be large enough to accommodate their brood and be about 0.3 m above ground. Breeding pairs defend their nesting site aggressively, in some cases, they may need to compete for nesting areas with tree swallows , western bluebirds and mountain bluebirds and in rare instances, ash-throated flycatchers have even laid their eggs on top of mountain bluebird eggs and raised the bluebird chicks along with their own brood. Ash-throated flycatchers mainly nest in cavities, often in nest boxes, abandoned woodpecker holes or occasionally cactus holes. Ash-throated flycatchers begin laying eggs in May, usually directly after they finish constructing their nests. Their nests are built in about 1 to 7 days and are made of grasses and roots, and are lined with mammal hair. Their eggs are ovate-shaped and creamy white or pinkish, with long splotches; they are very similar in color and size to the eggs of other flycatcher species. Clutches are composed of 4.3 eggs on average. The eggs are incubated for approximately 15 days and the young usually leave the nest about 17 days after hatching. Both sexes tend to the young. Occasionally, members of this species have two broods in a year.

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous iteroparous
• seasonal breeding seasonal breeding
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual sexual
• oviparous oviparous

Among ash-throated flycatchers, females perform most of the egg incubation, although males help by defending the nesting site and by bringing food to the females. Once the eggs hatch, the female may continue brooding the altricial young for up to another week. Directly after hatching, the chicks are blind and naked, with pink skin and a yellow gape. The chicks are fed by both the male and female, who also help maintain a clean nest by disposing of waste material.

• Parental Investment
• altricial altricial
• male parental care male parental care
• female parental care female parental care
• pre-hatching/birth
  • protecting
    • male
    • female
• pre-weaning/fledging
  • provisioning
    • male
    • female
  • protecting
    • male
    • female
• pre-independence
  • provisioning
    • male
    • female
  • protecting
    • male
    • female

Lifespan/Longevity

The lifespan of ash-throated flycatchers has not been reported. However, a bird banded in Orange County, California was recaptured after 9 years, although its age at the time of the initial banding was not known. Likewise, a banded bird was recaptured 5.5 years after being banded in central Sonora, Mexico.

Behavior

Ash-throated flycatchers are diurnal and spend much of their time searching for food. However, some reports suggest they may migrate at least partially at night. They often catch insects in flight; however, they have also been observed catching insects on the ground or feeding on small fruits. These birds are low foragers and generally do not travel into the tree canopy. This species seems to be very adaptable to human presence and has been seen nesting in man-made structures such as PVC pipe and nest boxes. These birds migrate annually, generally moving in late summer and early fall. During the summer season, these birds may become inactive during the hottest times of the day.

• Key Behaviors
• flies
• diurnal diurnal
• motile motile
• migratory migratory

Home Range

Ash-throated flycatchers can maintain a breeding territory of 1 to 36 hectares. Territories that are only 1 to 5 ha are usually found in dry, lower elevation areas, whereas the larger territories are usually found in wetter areas with a higher elevation.

Communication and Perception

Ash-throated flycatchers vocalize year round. Their calls can help distinguish them from other similar Myiarchus species. These birds have varied calls, but the sounds they produce include a “kabrick”, “prrrt”, “where” and a harsh “zheep” sound. When introduced to a threatening stimulus, such as the call of a potential predator, ash-throated flycatchers often begin vocalizing. When these birds become alarmed, they may snap their bills, particularly when they are on their nest.

• Communication Channels
• visual visual
• acoustic acoustic

• Perception Channels
• visual visual
• tactile tactile
• acoustic acoustic
• chemical chemical

Food Habits

Ash-throated flycatchers eat mainly insects and some fruits such as berries. Their insect prey includes grasshoppers , wasps, bees , true bugs , treehoppers , stink bugs , cicadas , plant lice , leafhoppers , termites , assassin bugs , moths, caterpillars , flies , robber flies , beetles and dragonflies . Plant matter accounts for about 13% of their diet and includes saguaro fruits , organ pipe cacti , cardon fruits, mistletoe berries, elderberries and nightshade . They catch insects while flying or sometimes perch and ambush insects on the ground. Occasionally, they also eat small mammals or reptiles, such as Colima giant whiptails and green anoles , although this is rare. After capturing invertebrate prey, ash-throated flycatchers swallow them whole; however, they tenderize vertebrate prey by hitting it against a tree or rock before consumption.

• Primary Diet
• carnivore carnivore
  • insectivore insectivore

• Animal Foods
• reptiles
• insects

• Plant Foods
• fruit

Predation

Predation by other birds such as scrub jays , pinyon jays and common ravens are the most common causes of nest failure among ash-throated flycatchers. These birds may also be preyed upon by rodent and snake species as well as red-tailed hawks and American kestrels . Upon hearing a recording of northern pygmy owls and eastern screech owls , ash-throated flycatchers became restless, which may suggest these species are also potential predators.

Ecosystem Roles

Since ash-throated flycatchers are insectivorous, they can play a role in controlling insect populations. Their young and eggs can serve as food sources for other birds, snakes and some rodents. Ash-throated flycatchers are cavity nesters and their abandoned cavities are often used by other flycatcher species as well as woodpeckers and bluebirds. Although brown-headed cowbirds are known brood parasites to many flycatcher species, this parasitism has not been observed in ash-throated flycatchers. These birds may be plagued by a variety of parasites such as nasal mites , nematodes , feather lice and feather mites . Due to their partially frugivorous diet, ash-throated flycatchers may be minimally effective seed dispersers for bilberry cacti and elephant trees .

• Ecosystem Impact
• disperses seeds

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

Ash-throated flycatchers are insectivorous and may help control insect pest populations. They may also help disperse the seeds of some plants due to their partially frugivorous diet.

Economic Importance for Humans: Negative

There are no known negative impacts of ash-throated flycatchers on human populations.

Conservation Status

Populations of ash-throated flycatchers are currently stable and are even seeing a slight increase in size. These birds have a large range with ample habitat areas, due to this; ash-throated flycatchers are currently considered a species of least concern by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Additional Links

Encyclopedia of Life

BioKIDS Critter Catalog

Contributors

Rebecca Ballance (author), Northern Michigan University, Leila Siciliano Martina (author, editor), Texas State University, Alec Lindsay (editor), Northern Michigan University.

References

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