Lifer 662 – Bright-rumped Attila – Reflections of the Natural World

Over the past 40 years I have had the good fortune to photographically document 85% of the bird species added to my “Life List.” This blog series showcases the images and anecdotal accounts that document those “Lifer” sightings and a little about the environment and culture of the area. This Lifer blog series begins with the first LIFER outside of the US, Lifer #624 and proceeds chronologically forward from there.

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

@ Zona Arqueológica Muyil, Quintana Roo, MX

Bright-rumped Attila (Attila spadiceus) > Tyrannidae > Passeriformes

Lifer Photo @ Zona Arqueológica Muyil, Quintana Roo, MX

IDENTIFICATION: A distinctive, rather large flycatcher of tropical and subtropical forest and woodland, heard far more often than seen. Feeds from the forest floor to the canopy; has a habit of strongly flicking its tail up and down while perched. Readily identified by its staring face with orange eyes; stout, slightly hooked pinkish bill; and streaked breast. The bright tawny rump can be hard to see. Loud, strident, whistled song given at any time of day, but especially around dawn.

FIRST “LIFER” OBSERVATION:
Birding with: My wife Maria
Date: 05 Dec 2021 @ Zona Arqueológica Muyil, Quintana Roo, MX
Zona Arqueológica Muyil (Chunyaxché) | MX-ROO

SPECIES GLOBAL eBIRD DISTRIBUTION MAP
Yellow Star indications the location of my Lifer sighting

DETAILS ABOUT SIGHTING: After 4 busy days of exploring so many interesting, but very much packed with people places, Maria and I wanted to return to visit Muyil knowing that it was not going to be very busy. We enjoyed another breakfast at our favorite restaurant, El Rincón Mexicano Muyil. We were not disappointed and pretty much had the whole area to ourselves. As we walked through the park-like entrance area all the way back to the small pyramid and back, we just casually explored the zone, pausing to sit and relax and just listen and enjoy. Over the course of the next 2 1/2 hours, I was able to add 7 new “Lifer” bird species.

7th Lifer – Muyil Visit on 12/5/21: Lifer #662 Bright-rumped Attila.

The last lifer of the morning was a remarkable-looking flycatcher called an Attila. I was photographing a nice male Rose-throated Becard when this interesting bird flew in and snagged an insect out of the air and then landed in the shadows. It took me a few minutes to identify it as we didn’t have Miguel with us. I thought it kind of looked like a Myiarchus flycatcher or something close to that. And it was very close, just before them taxonomically in my field guide. I would go on to find them in other spots in Quintana Roo, Belize and Guatemala.

PHOTOS TAKEN:

All images below are tagged with their locations.