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15 Facts About Ecuador’s Vermilion Flycatcher

The male vermilion flycatcher is a tiny bright red bird. He is a real attention grabber! The first one we saw was in the Galapagos Islands on Isabela Island. We have also seen them in the Yunguilla Valley, just south of Cuenca, Ecuador.

bright-red-vermilion-flycatcher-in-the-grass
(Read more about living in Ecuador)

15 Facts About The Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus Rubinus)

  1. Can be found in the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central, and South America
  2. The adult males are blackish-brown with a bright red head, neck, and underside
  3. Their color fades in captivity
  4. The adult females are light grey with a peach-colored belly
  5. They grow to about six inches in length
  6. The young male resembles the adult female
  7. The young females have a yellow-colored belly
  8. Their nests are made of twigs and lined with hair/feathers
  9. They lay two to four whitish eggs
  10. The male and female share in raising the young
  11. The eggs hatch in about two weeks
  12. The young leave the nest after only 15 days
  13. They eat insects like grasshoppers, flies, dragonflies and beetles which they usually catch  in midair
  14. They sometimes sing “peet-a-weet-a-weet, peet-peet
  15. Are normally found in arid areas with low-lying bushes, near a water source

The Male and Female Vermilion Flycatcher

The male stands out so much more than the female!

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Male vermilion flycatcher

female-vermilion-flycatcher

Female vermilion flycatcher

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Close up of the male vermilion flycatcher

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Close up of the female vermilion flycatcher

Have you seen vermilion flycatchers? Where did you see them? We would love to hear all about it in the comments on this post.

Dave Nichols

Tuesday 30th of November 2021

I live on the west side of the Yungilla Valley just south of Santa Isabel, EC. I see these beautiful birds here off and on. I think the locals call them Tamisians.

Bryan Haines

Tuesday 30th of November 2021

Thanks Dave - I love that area. I think Yunguilla is my favorite part of Ecuador - we lived in Santa Isabel for 3 years. Enjoy!

Francisco Mariño

Saturday 20th of November 2021

Ecuadorian here. I work at a private school in the Ambato's outskirts. I often see this bird around the parking lot and near the soccer fields. I could snap a picture one day and started my research. It turns out this little fella loves open spaces, that probably why it's not seen in the city Watching this little red friend always makes my day.

Steve marlowe

Thursday 25th of March 2021

I live in Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. , I’ve been taking pictures, of the same male vermilion flycatcher for almost a year , it seems odd that he is the only one in this area , it seems his chances of finding a mate are slim, anyway , I’m just wondering why , it’s still here, after all this time ?

Cookie

Sunday 10th of November 2019

My friends and I saw two male vermillion flycatchers on October 3, 2019 about 11 am at the Middle of the World Monument. I have pics to document. Will try to send.

Pamela Anderson

Sunday 11th of June 2017

I live in Tucson. I saw the little red bird a few months ago....now he lives in my backyard in Tucson. I saw him feeding his mate...a grey-er bird, same size, without the red...We named him Ephron. He is such a delight. He likes to perch atop a plant hanger and flits and flys about me when I am watering.

Reyna Barns

Saturday 11th of March 2023

@Pamela Anderson, I love this!