Streaked Flycatcher

Sightings
Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus was seen a few times on this trip both on Trinidad and Tobago. This sighting was made on the lower slopes of the Tobago Forest Reserve where we saw at least two adult birds which appeared to be taking food to a nest site close to the road. This bird was photographed on a cable which was supporting an electricity pole.

Species
Streaked Flycatcher has a brown head with a concealed yellow crown patch, white supercilium and dusky eye mask. The upperparts are brown with darker brown streaks on the back, rufous and white edges on the wings, and wide chestnut edges on the rump and tail. The underparts are yellowish-white streaked with brown. Most of these identification features are visible in the photograph. There are seven subspecies of Streaked Flycatcher of which M. m. tobagensis is found on both main islands of Trinidad and Tobago as well as north Venezuela and Guyana.

Status and Distribution
This species breeds from eastern Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago south to Bolivia and Argentina. The southern subspecies M. m. solitarius migrates to Venezuela and the Guianas from March to September during the austral winter. The species is of least concern with a stable population and some authorities split North and Southern forms, this subspecies being part of Northern Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus therefore.

References
BirdLife; Wikipedia; World Bird Names; Kenefick, M., Restall, R., and Hayes, F. (2015) Birds of Trinidad and Tobago, Bloomsbury Publishing, page 196.

Photograph
The photograph was taken in good afternoon light at 1/100th of a second, f5.6 and ISO 160.