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Wild About Birds - Illinois Flycatchers!
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Kingdom: Animalia - Animals are multicellular organisms that rely on other organisms for nourishment. There cells do not have cell walls. Most animals are capable of movement at least in some portion of their life cycle. Reproduction is generally sexual, but in some animals asexual reproduction may be utilized at certain times.
Phylum: Chordata - The Phylum Chordata contains the vertebrate animals. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fishes are included in this phylum. These animals have a notochord at some point in their development. They have a tubular nerve cord along the back. Gill slits and a tail are present at some point in their life cycle. They have an internal skeleton.
Class: Aves - Birds are the only organisms with feathers. They are endotherms, maintaining a nearly constant body temperature. They have a hard bill but no teeth. A gizzard, which functions to grind food, is present in the digestive tract. Fertilization is internal. A nest is built in which the hard-shelled eggs are deposited and incubated.
Order: Passeriformes - These are birds with adaptations for holding on to thin twigs or stems. Three of the toes on each foot face forward and one backward to help it grasp and balance on small branches.
Family: Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) - This group of birds from North America, Central America and South America is made up of about 425 species and is the largest family of birds. The bill is flattened from top to bottom and has bristles at the base. Individuals perch on open branches waiting for insects to pass then fly out to catch them. Fruits are sometimes eaten in winter.
great crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
eastern wood-pewee (Contopus virens)
yellow-bellied flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris)
Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
alder flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum)
willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
least flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Say’s phoebe (Sayornis saya)