Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSulphur-bellied Flycatcher
A large flycatcher with bold black and white stripes on the face, a white throat, light yellow underparts with blackish streaks, a rufous tail, and a heavy bill with a hooked tip.
© Isaias Morataya / Macaulay LibraryCayo, May 03, 2020Upperparts are a mix of pale yellow and charcoal. Wing feathers have extensive white markings. Rufous tail feathers have dark shafts.
© Ryan O'Donnell / Macaulay LibraryArizona, July 19, 2020Adult
A large flycatcher with a large head, heavy bill, striped face, rufous tail, and streaky yellowish underparts. Easily identified (and often located) by its distinctive “squeaky toy” call, given mainly during the breeding season.
© Wayne Hall / Macaulay LibraryStann Creek, April 02, 2018Not all videos have sound
Often perches in canopy foliage for extended periods before taking flight to pursue insects.
© fernando Burgalin Sequeria / Macaulay LibraryAlajuela, March 25, 2020Note black mask through eye, whitish stripes above and below eye, and blackish malar stripes meeting on the chin.
© fernando Burgalin Sequeria / Macaulay LibraryAlajuela, March 25, 2020Pair
Often occurs in pairs during the breeding season and in small family groups at other times.
© Paul Fenwick / Macaulay LibraryArizona, June 15, 2024Not all videos have sound
Nests in tree cavities, with sycamores often used in southeastern Arizona.
© Benjamin Hack / Macaulay LibraryArizona, July 04, 2016Found in woodlands and forests ranging from thorn scrub and dry forest to rainforest, but generally not found in the interior of extensive forest.
© Shawn Miller / Macaulay LibraryArizona, June 11, 2016Adult
Typically remains high in trees, making short flights in pursuit of flying insects.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 01, 2006Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesStreaked Flycatcher
Streaked Flycatcher has a heavier bill than Sulphur-bellied, with extensive pinkish on the base of the lower mandible; whitish underparts with finer streaking; and smaller malar stripes that usually do not meet on the chin. Streaked Flycatchers in Central America have a buffy or yellowish line above the eye that Sulphur-bellied lacks. Vocalizations are a good way to differentiate these two species.
© fernando Burgalin Sequeria / Macaulay LibraryGuanacaste, February 12, 2022Similar SpeciesVariegated Flycatcher
Variegated Flycatcher is smaller than Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, with a smaller head and bill. Variegated has a bolder, crisper black-and-white facial pattern, a whitish chin, more diffuse streaking on whiter underparts, and a brown to blackish tail with rufous edging.
© Lorrie Lowrie / Macaulay LibraryTexas, September 30, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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