Definition

Noun: 1. A type of small, insect-eating songbird: A bird belonging to the family Tyrannidae (in the Americas) or Muscicapidae (in the Old World), known for catching flying insects in mid-air. 2. A specific large American bird: A common name for birds of the genus Tyrannus, such as the kingbird, which are notable for their aggressive insect-catching behavior.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We spotted a flycatcher perched on the fence, darting out to catch gnats.
  • The Eastern Phoebe is a common type of flycatcher in North America.
  • Birdwatchers were excited to identify the rare flycatcher by its distinctive call and flight pattern.

Advanced Usage

• "Old World flycatcher": Refers specifically to birds of the family Muscicapidae, found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
  • The Spotted Flycatcher is a familiar Old World flycatcher in European gardens.
• "Tyrant flycatcher": Refers specifically to birds of the family Tyrannidae, found exclusively in the Americas.
  • The Great Kiskadee is a colorful and loud tyrant flycatcher common in Central and South America.

Variants and Related Words

• Flycatching (adj., present participle): Describing the characteristic feeding behavior.
  • The bird exhibited typical flycatching behavior from its perch.

Synonyms

• Insectivore (n): An animal that feeds on insects (a broader category).
• Songbird (n): A perching bird of an order (Passeriformes) that includes flycatchers (a broader category).

Related Phrases

• "Sally forth" (verb phrase): A term used in ornithology to describe the flycatcher's hunting technique of flying out from a perch to catch an insect and returning to the same spot.
  • The flycatcher would sally forth repeatedly from its branch to feed.

Noun

1. large American birds that characteristically catch insects on the wing
2. any of a large group of small songbirds that feed on insects taken on the wing