Vermillion flycatchers
Images copyright by Mark A. Chappell
As should be readily apparent from these pictures, male vermillion flycatchers are spectacularly flashy birds of southwestern deserts and scrublands. During the breeding season they go out of their way to show off with high, flamboyant display flights advertised with twittering calls. Some of these photographs are of overwintering birds going about their business of catching small insects at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area near Riverside, California (a little bit outside of their normal winter range). Others were photographed at the Big Morongo Reserve in the California desert; the bird below at right was keeping himself cool on a hot summer day (most birds hold their wings open in hot weather to help dissipate metabolic heat). The female has much more subdued plumage, as can be seen in two of the lower images -- but she is still a very attractive little bird.
