390 BIRDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA PART 3 



\'alle, Code ; 550 meters on Cerro Pirre. Darien. Possibly migrant 

 after the breeding season. 



The piratic flycatcher is found locally in the Tropical Zone wherever 

 there is tree growth, ranging widely through areas of lowland forest, 

 and also in the savannas. In regions of heavy forest it appears to be 

 absent, except along the open borders of larger streams. Occasionally 

 I have found them at the landward edge of mangrove swamps. In 

 settled sections they may come to trees in suburban areas. They are 

 seen usually singly or in pairs ; more rarely three or four may be 

 found near one another. 



The species is widely distributed from southern Mexico through 

 Central America and South America to northern Argentina and 

 Brazil. From the Isthmus of Panama northward it is migratory, 

 though as yet its movements are not fully known. Eisenmann has no 

 report for this flycatcher in Panama between late October and 

 January. My earliest date in specimen records is a male taken at El 

 Real. Darien, January 11. 1964. Apparently the bird may leave the 

 Isthmus for part of the year. 



The common names for this species refer to their breeding habits, 

 in which they do not build nests themselves, but appropriate the 

 domed or pendant homes of some other species. Early accounts of 

 this habit were published by Chapman (My Tropical Air Castle, 1929, 

 pp. 111-121). Skutch (Pac. Coast Avif. no. 34, 1960, pp. 451-464) 

 has written of it in detail. In brief, in southwestern Costa Rica he 

 found the Piratic Flycatcher occupying nests of the following species : 

 White- winged Becard Pachyramphus polychopterus, Gray-capped 

 Flycatcher Myioccfctes granadensis, V^ermilion-crowned Flycatcher 

 Myio:zctetes siiuilis. Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphure- 

 sccns. Eye-ringed Flatbill Rhy)ic}iocycliis brcvirostris, and Gartered 

 Trogon Trogon violaccus. 



Dr. Frank M. Chapman on Barro Colorado Island found them 

 taking the nests of the Chestnut-headed Oropendola, Zarhynchus 

 -cvoglcri. Eisenmann reports them at Tocumen in nests of Cacicus 

 cela and Pachyramphus cinnamoviens. Neal Smith near Almirante 

 has seen them at a nest of Cacicus itropygialis. In addition they are 

 reported to usurp the nests of orioles {Icterus), and even those of the 

 great kiskadee {Pitangus sulphuratus) . 



The method used with these species, several of them aggressive and 

 decidedly larger than the intruder, is persistent annoyance through 

 attack and attempt to enter the nest. The rightful owners drive the 

 interlopers away repeatedly but finally give up. If the rightful owners 



