Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher -- Myiodynastes luteiventris


RANGE: Breeds from southeastern Arizona to Central America. Winters in South America.

STATUS: Fairly common.

HABITAT: Inhabits riparian mountain canyons, from 5,000 to 7,500 feet in elevation, where sycamore, oak, walnut, Arizona cypress, and pine are common.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Natural cavities in trees or abandoned northern flicker holes.

NEST: Usually builds nest in a natural cavity, typically a knothole where a large branch has broken off and a cavity has rotted out, 20 to 50 feet above the ground in living sycamores. Occasionally nests in an old flicker hole or a nest box placed high in a tree. Constructs nest on top of a loose platform built inside the cavity.

FOOD: Eats a variety of insects and spiders; also a few small fruits and berries.

REFERENCES: Bent 1942, Cottam and Knappen 1939, Ligon 1971a, Phillips et al. 1964.


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