Vermillion Flycatcher

Juvenile, male Vermillion Flycatcher taken in November of 2024. Inspiring joy and awe in both new and veteran birdwatchers, I don’t think the early members of Tucson Audubon could have chosen a better mascot bird than the Vermilion Flycatcher. This “ruby, fire-headed” tropical flycatcher (based on its scientific name, Pyrocephalus rubinus) achieves its highest US population density in Tucson and is difficult to miss, even if you pay little attention to birds. I can’t begin to count how many times this beyond-red bird has sparked conversations with non-birders as they wonder what they are looking at.