An observation of attempted interspecific kleptoparasitism between two neotropical Tyrannid flycatchers

Kleptoparasitism, the interspecific and intraspecific stealing of already procured food, is well known among many taxa of birds (Brockmann & Barnard 1979), but has been reported only rarely in the avian family Tyrannidae. To my knowledge there are only two published observations of kleptoparasitism by tyrannid flycatchers, in both cases representing intraspecific kleptoparasitism within a single species. In Trinidad, Bentley (1991) observed a Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) stealing a dead mouse from another Great Kiskadee. And in Paraguay, I reported a group of six Great Kiskadees chasing each other and exchanging a large, green orthopteran insect (Hayes 1992). In this note I report a case of interspecific kleptoparasitism in which a Sulphury Flycatcher (Tyrannopsis sulphurea) attempted to steal food from a Boat-billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua).

Floyd E. Hayes, ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL 9: 93-94