Fauna
Bird

Great Kiskadee

Pitangus sulphuratus

Also known as Kiskadee Flycatcher, Bem-te-vi, Bienteveo

Great kiskadees are boisterous, adaptable flycatchers recognized by their piercing calls and bold black-and-white face masks. They hunt aggressively from exposed perches, plunging into shallow water for small fish or darting into foliage to snatch insects and berries. Pairs vigorously defend their territory, mobbing hawks and nest predators while constructing massive, domed stick nests lined with soft grasses.

VocalOmnivorousAdaptable
Great Kiskadee reference1 / 7
(c) Dario Sanches, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyDragonflies, Small minnows, Tree frogs
Predators
  • Roadside Hawk
  • Barn Owl
  • Feral cat
ThreatsPesticide runoff affecting prey bases and local habitat loss
HabitatsOpen woodlands, river edges, marshes, agricultural lands, and urban parks
Life span8–12 years
Classification
  1. OrderPasseriformes
  2. FamilyTyrannidae
  3. GenusPitangus
  4. SpeciesPitangus sulphuratus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Auditory Identification: Listen for its loud, onomatopoeic namesake call carrying over waterways.
  • Waterway Scanning: Look for birds scanning water surfaces from dead snags or low branches.
  • Nest Watching: Check telephone poles and tree forks for large, domed clumps of twigs.
Related species
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