Vermilion Flycatcher

One of the many reasons birding is such a fun challenge is the ever-present possibility of stumbling across a mega-rarity, a bird far from its regular range and habitat that is in no way "supposed" to be there.  I can't say that I've ever found a bird that falls into this category, but last month I saw a Tropical Kingbird in Monterey county (though I was not the first to find it) and Scaly-breasted Munias in my own backyard, which was the first record on eBird of this exotic species in Stanislaus county.  This winter, California's population of munias seems to have increased and mounted a forward assault on Northern California, particularly along the coast and in the Bay Area, though a few have shown up at backyard feeders in Sacramento as well.

But this is not about Scaly-breasted Munias or Tropical Kingbirds!  This is about another magnificent little rare bird that is far from its normal range.


Residents of the American Southwest as well as Central and South America,Vermilion Flycatchers are typically found near streams and ponds in deserts, scrublands, grasslands and other arid habitats.  In California, they are found in substantial numbers about as far north as the Grapevine area, though every year, a handful find their way to Bakersfield, Tulare and beyond, and the state is peppered with a smattering of Vermilion Flycatcher sightings ranging across the Central Valley and up the coast.

It seems odd, but when one of these little gems turns up far from home, they seem to stick around for quite some time - years, even - returning to the same favored overwintering grounds.  For instance, there is one well-known male that spends his winters hanging out at the Maxwell Cemetery in Colusa County - and he's done so since 2016!  Since the winter of 2017, another male has reliably been turning up at Dawson Lake in Stanislaus County, and a female has been making a predictable appearance at Merced National Wildlife Refuge.  According to Cornell's All About Birds, the oldest Vermilion Flycatcher on record was 4.5 years old, so there is every likelihood that these returning birds are the same individuals, year after year.

I've written before about the Dawson Lake male, and have searched a couple of times for the Merced female without any luck - until recently!


Vermilion Flycatchers are closely related to phoebes and females must be carefully separated from the similarly apricot-tinted Say's Phoebes, which are abundant in our area at this time of year!  Female Vermilion Flycatchers have a more rounded, compact shape than the more elongated shape of the Say's Phoebe.  Female (and immature male) Vermilion Flycatchers also show a distinct white chest marked with fine vertical streaks.

I'd examined a few Say's Phoebes along Merced NWR's auto tour route before I glanced up into a bare willow tree and saw an altogether different-looking bird that was recognizable immediately - even after just a quick look without binoculars - as the unmistakable Vermilion Flycatcher!


Once one birder gets on to a "good bird," news travels fast in the birding community.  Before long, the location is swarming with all the birders in the county and plenty from farther away.  In a way, just how "good" a bird is can be judged by the distance birders are willing to travel to see it!  Everyone wants the opportunity to add a new bird to their state or county list - even their life list!  Some rare birds stay only for a matter of minutes or hours, offering looks to the lucky few, while others hang around all season.

Either way, seeing a rare bird is always a treat - especially when she's as gorgeous as this little Vermilion Flycatcher!


And, for the sake of comparison, here is a photo of a dazzling male Vermilion Flycatcher that I took last summer in Arizona, where they are common in streamside habitat.

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