Social Flycatcher

Myiozetetes similis

eBird describes the Social Flycatcher like this:  Looks like a mini version of Boat-billed Flycatcher; in particular note Social’s small bill. Common in tropical and subtropical areas, especially in semi-open areas with trees and hedges, woodland edge, towns, gardens. Often noisy and ‘social’ (some of its calls suggest parakeets); usually found in pairs or small groups, often perching conspicuously. Eats a lot of berries, and often occurs alongside Boat-billed Flycatcher and Great Kiskadee in fruiting figs and other trees.The website Birds of the World introduces this bird with this information:  Social Flycatcher is a widespread and familiar member of the avifauna throughout much of the Neotropics. It can be quite common near water in forest and edge habitats ranging from northern Argentina north to Mexico. Similar to other stocky yellow, black and white flycatchers, Social Flycatcher is medium sized with brown upperparts and tail, a short, decurved bill, bold black and white striped head, and yellow underparts that run from the white throat to the undertail coverts. The species is easily detected, sits out in the open and gives loud, harsh and sometimes chattering calls.

I saw my first Social Flycatcher near the mess hall at La Selva on the late afternoon of February 5, 2023.  I thought it was a Kingbird until I closely examined my photographs when I got home from my Costa Rican birding trip.  I was delighted to at this little bird to my life list!  To see my blog post of my visit to La Selva, look here.