Vermilion Flycatcher
Pyrocephalus rubinus
The Vermilion Flycatcher is a strikingly handsome bird. We find it in the New World in open brushy areas near water. In the Southwestern USA, they are resident near the border with Mexico, but sometimes push north a few hundred miles to breed in summer. Southern Nevada is another location where we find them year-round. Science currently recognizes nine subspecies of Vermillion Flycatchers, some of whose ranges extend south as far as Argentina.
I can remember well my first meetings with Vermillion Flycatchers. I was relatively new to birding in 2003 and exploring southern Arizona’s Arivaca Ciénega when I saw both male and female birds hawking insects from reedy stalks in the middle of the marshes there. It’s impossible to ignore these birds, or not be impressed, especially the rich, bold coloration of the males that give these birds their name. I didn’t photograph those first birds, but the image is burned into my memory to this day. I returned the following morning and captured some of the images on display in this gallery.

Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at Lindo Lake. Lakeside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:08:01 9:48 |
Location:
Lindo Lake |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X4219-VermillionFlyCatcher-Female |
© 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at Buenos Aires NWR. Arivaca, South Central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:30 19:46 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_1446VermillionFlycatcher |
© 2003 Jack Daynes |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at Buenos Aires NWR. Arivaca, South Central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:30 19:46 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_1441VermillionFlycatcher |
© 2003 Jack Daynes |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at Buenos Aires NWR. Arivaca, South Central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:30 18:40 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/750 |
File Name: JCD_1430VermillionFlycatcher |
© 2003 Jack Daynes |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Charlston Bridge on the San Pedro River, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2003:08:28 16:08 |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/350 |
File Name: JCD_1176VermillionFlyCatcher |
© 2003 Jack Daynes |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Many birds are attracted to the stored water in Ayer Lake at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona is a well known desert oasis and a great place to meet birds. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:23 16:40 |
Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher_D5X4548-Boyce-Thompson-Arboretum |
© 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at the Virden Bridge along the Gila River in Western New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:24 18:08 |
Location:
Virden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726975-VermillionFlyCatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at the Virden Bridge along the Gila River in Western New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:24 17:59 |
Location:
Virden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726922-VermillionFlyCatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: At the Virden Bridge along the Gila River in Western New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:24 17:58 |
Location:
Virden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726896-VermillionFlyCatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at the Virden Bridge along the Gila River in Western New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:24 17:57 |
Location:
Virden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726882-VermillionFlyCatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 17:31 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: D727162-VermillionFlycatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 17:30 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: D727149-VermillionFlycatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: The cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aries NWR in Arivaca, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:25 17:30 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: D727145-VermillionFlycatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at the Virden Bridge along the Gila River in Western New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:24 18:01 |
Location:
Virden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726936-VermillionFlyCatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: At the Virden Bridge along the Gila River in Western New Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:24 17:58 |
Location:
Virden |
Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D726894-VermillionFlyCatcher |
© 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: The Cienega at Arivaca. Part of the Buenos Aires NWR in rural Arizona. Southeast of Tucson. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:04 7:33 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher-Male_D5X0536 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: A migrant female bird found during our first afternoon on Isla Socorro. The largest of the islands in the Archipielago de Revillagigedo, and part of the state of Colima, Mexico. |
Date Taken: 2017:02:15 14:43 |
Location:
Marine Base |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 550 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher_D5X7748 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: After visiting Big Bend National Park, I drove to Marathon Texas, where I discovered the Gage Gardens near the town center and birds like this Vermillion Flycatcher. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:07 15:56 |
Location:
Gage Gardens |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: VermillionFlyCatcher_D5X3670-Marathon |
(C)2019 Jack Daynes |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Vermilion Flycatchers occasionally find their way into San Diego County, but are regular visitors here in the Imperial County desert. I met them on my final push home from Texas in 2020 and passed through Brawley, California where I paid a visit to Cattle Call Park. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:28 11:24 |
Location:
Cattle Call Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: Vermilion_D5X6376-CattleCall-Brawley |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Vermilion Flycatchers occasionally find their way into San Diego County, but are regular visitors here in the Imperial County desert. I met them on my final push home from Texas in 2020 and passed through Brawley, California where I paid a visit to Cattle Call Park. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:28 11:26 |
Location:
Cattle Call Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Vermilion_D5X6396-CattleCall-Brawley |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Vermilion Flycatchers occasionally find their way into San Diego County, but are regular visitors here in the Imperial County desert. I met them on my final push home from Texas in 2020 and passed through Brawley, California where I paid a visit to Cattle Call Park. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:28 11:27 |
Location:
Cattle Call Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Vermilion_D5X6409-CattleCall-Brawley |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Vermilion Flycatchers occasionally find their way into San Diego County, but are regular visitors here in the Imperial County desert. I met them on my final push home from Texas in 2020 and passed through Brawley, California where I paid a visit to Cattle Call Park. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:28 11:28 |
Location:
Cattle Call Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Vermilion_D5X6427-CattleCall-Brawley |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Vermilion Flycatchers occasionally find their way into San Diego County, but are regular visitors here in the Imperial County desert. I met them on my final push home from Texas in 2020 and passed through Brawley, California where I paid a visit to Cattle Call Park. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:28 11:29 |
Location:
Cattle Call Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Vermilion_D5X6433-CattleCall-Brawley |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Vermilion Flycatchers occasionally find their way into San Diego County, but are regular visitors here in the Imperial County desert. I met them on my final push home from Texas in 2020 and passed through Brawley, California where I paid a visit to Cattle Call Park. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:28 11:33 |
Location:
Cattle Call Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: Vermilion_D5X6463-CattleCall-Brawley |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: My first meeting with the Vermilion Flycatcher was here at Arivaca in the summer of 2003. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:27 8:57 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher_D5X6228-Arivaca |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: My first meeting with the Vermilion Flycatcher was here at Arivaca in the summer of 2003. I drove for three plus hours to spend two lovely hours with these birds at the Cienega in Arivaca before turning onto my final leg of my homeward journey from my 2020 Texas adventure. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:27 8:58 |
Location:
Arivaca Cienega |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher_D5X6242-Arivaca |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: I found some nice birds at a roadside rest area about one hour east of Fort Stockton Texas to break the monotony of the I-10 freeway. I was surprised how many birds I found. There were 3 oriole species, 3 flycatcher species, and cactus wrens. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:09 17:39 |
Location:
East Pecos County Rest Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher_D505341-EastPecosCounty |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: I found some nice birds at a roadside rest area about one hour east of Fort Stockton Texas to break the monotony of the I-10 freeway. I was surprised how many birds I found. There were 3 oriole species, 3 flycatcher species, and cactus wrens. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:09 17:42 |
Location:
East Pecos County Rest Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher_D505353-EastPecosCounty |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: I found some nice birds at a roadside rest area about one hour east of Fort Stockton Texas to break the monotony of the I-10 freeway. I was surprised how many birds I found. There were 3 oriole species, 3 flycatcher species, and cactus wrens. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:09 18:07 |
Location:
East Pecos County Rest Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher_D505464-EastPecosCounty |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: I found some nice birds at a roadside rest area about one hour east of Fort Stockton Texas to break the monotony of the I-10 freeway. I was surprised how many birds I found. There were 3 oriole species, 3 flycatcher species, and cactus wrens. |
Date Taken: 2020:05:09 18:12 |
Location:
East Pecos County Rest Area |
Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: VermillionFlycatcher_D505512-EastPecosCounty |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:11 |
Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X0035 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:12 |
Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X0039 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Arivaca in rural south-central Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:05:03 16:11 |
Location:
La Siesta Campgrounds |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X0033 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Male at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 13:28 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X6919 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Juveniles at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 15:02 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X7224-Juvenile |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Juveniles waiting to be fed at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 15:03 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X7256-Juvenile |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Juveniles at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 15:03 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X7235-Juvenile |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Juveniles at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 15:10 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X7281-Juvenile |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Mom feeding Juveniles at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 15:05 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X7272-Juvenile |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Male chasing female at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 13:27 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X6882 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Male parent at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 13:19 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X6857 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 13:37 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X7108 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female parent at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 13:34 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X6967 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Female at Agua Caliente Park in Northeastern Tucson, Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2017:04:24 13:40 |
Location:
Agua Caliente Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcher_D5X7135 |
© 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Male Vermilion Flycatchers are one of the brighter birds in the Arizona desert. It was a lovely day at the Gilbert Water Ranch. The weather was mild, and the winds were calm. Gilbert is in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:11 15:38 |
Location:
Gilbert Water Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcatcher_D5X0051-GilbertWaterRanch |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Vermilion Flycatcher(Pyrocephalus rubinus) |
Description: Male Vermilion Flycatchers are one of the brighter birds in the Arizona desert. It was a lovely day at the Gilbert Water Ranch. The weather was mild, and the winds were calm. Gilbert is in the Greater Phoenix area of Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2020:11:11 15:36 |
Location:
Gilbert Water Ranch |
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: VermilionFlycatcatcher_D5X0022-GilbertWaterRanch |
© 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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