Species · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

TyrannidaeAerial insectivoresMyiarchus tuberculifer

Dusky-capped Flycatcher has surged: up 221% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

+221%Since 1970
16Routes
56Years Surveyed

About the Dusky-capped Flycatcher

The Dusky-capped Flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) is a North American member of the Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the aerial insectivores.

Size
4.5–9 in long (12–23 cm) — a small to medium flycatcher (typical for the family)
Habitat
Open airspace over fields, water and towns; nests in cavities, earthen banks or on structures.
Diet
Flying insects caught on the wing.
Range
Recorded on 16 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 2 states, most concentrated in the Sierra Madre Occidental.
Family
Tyrannidae · Aerial insectivores

Notable Dusky-capped Flycatcher Trends

No notable trend signals for Dusky-capped Flycatcher. See the full index history below.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Dusky-capped Flycatcher is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.02 (95% range 0.01–0.03). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±12%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2029
0.02Projected 2029 index
0.010.0395% range
±12%Backtest error
19682029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20250.020.010.03
20260.020.010.03
20270.020.010.03
20280.020.010.03
20290.020.010.03

Where the Dusky-capped Flycatcher Is Detected

BBS routes recording Dusky-capped Flycatcher, sized by most recent count.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher Population Trend by State

Dusky-capped Flycatcher population trend by state.
Arizona+155%197014
New Mexicoinsufficient datan/a2

Dusky-capped Flycatcher Population Trend by Region

Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher population trend by Bird Conservation Region.
Sierra Madre Occidental+39%197016

Dusky-capped Flycatcher Conservation Status

Our route-weighted index shows it up about 221% since 1970. Aerial insectivores have fallen sharply across the continent, a decline widely linked to dwindling insect prey.

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.