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Wild About Illinois Birds
Flycatchers, Kingbirds, Wood-pewees, Phoebes, Vireos and Shrikes
Family and Species Gallery
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)
Family Laniidae (Shrikes) - The shrikes have a hook on the tip of the bill. These birds behave a little like hawks. They prey on insects, small birds and mice. The prey items are imapled on throns or barbed wire.
loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) [state endangered]
northern shrike (Lanius borealis)
Family Vireonidae (Vireos) - Vireos are small, olive- or gray-backed birds. Many have wing bars and eye rings or no wing bars and eye stripes.
white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus)
Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii)
yellow-throated vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
blue-headed vireo (Vireo solitarius)
Philadelphia vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)
warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus)
red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus)