31 January 2010, El Valle, Cocle Province, Panama

These flycatchers seldom take insects mid-air like most other flycatchers,
but instead they grab them from twigs or foliage. They also hover to take
fruit and sometimes lizards.

This species is similar to the abundant Great Kiskadee (Pitangus
sulphuratus) which has much more rufous in the wings and tail and a very
different call. Despite the close resemblance to the Kiskadee, the
Boat-billed Flycatcher is placed in its own monotypic genus, Megarynchus
(sometimes misspelled "Megarhynchus", which, if I remember my Latin, means
"big nose." In addition to plumage and vocal differences, the nest of the
Boat-billed Flycatcher is quite different.

This species ranges from Mexico to Argentina with five or six subspecies
recognized. This is the widespread M. p. mexicanus which ranges from East
Mexico to NW Columbia. It is said to have a brighter, somewhat greener back
compared to other races.

Digiscoped with Panasonic DMC-LZ5 | Leica Televid APO with zoom eyepiece
(borrowed from Canopy Lodge) | hand-held (no adapter)