Fun Guam Flycatcher Facts For Kids

In this article, we will learn about a bird species that has become Extinct, the Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti). This species was also known as the Micronesian broadbill or the Micronesian Myiagra. The most common name apart from the Guam flycatcher is the Guam broadbill. The species was perhaps named this due to its broad bill which had whiskers that helped it in locating its food. They belong to the family Monarchidae. The Guam flycatcher species had a white underside and a buff-colored breast. The males had blue and black bodies, whereas the females had brownish-gray bodies. The population of this bird species was endemic to the small island of Guam. Until 1970, these birds could be commonly spotted in forests and thickets. However, in the '40s, the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) was accidentally introduced to the island. These introduced snakes became a major threat to the survival of this bird species. By the '80s, the number of snakes had risen sharply that led to a steep decline in the population of Guam flycatchers on the island. Eventually, the species was declared Extinct.

Keep reading to know more about this bird. If you enjoy reading about birds, be sure to check out the least flycatcher and Old World flycatcher.

What type of animal is a Guam flycatcher?

The Guam flycatcher, scientific name Myiagra freycineti, was a type of bird that is now Extinct. It was a species of flycatcher.

What class of animal does a Guam flycatcher belong to?

The Guam flycatcher belonged to the class Aves, order Passeriformes, and family Monarchidae.

How many Guam flycatchers are there in the world?

Guam flycatchers were declared Extinct in 1983.

Where does a Guam flycatcher live?

The Guam flycatcher population was endemic to Guam and was not found anywhere else in the world. They were present in all parts of Guam except the southern savannahs.

What is a Guam flycatcher's habitat?

Before extinction was brought about by the brown tree snake, Guam flycatchers were found living in mangroves and thickets. Its most common habitat, however, was limestone and ravine forests.

Who do Guam flycatchers live with?

Guam flycatcher birds are now Extinct and not much is known about who they used to live with.

How long does a Guam flycatcher live?

The lifespan of the Guam flycatcher species unfortunately is not known.

How do they reproduce?

Guam flycatcher nests could be spotted throughout the year with the exception of the months of November and December. The approximate number of clutches raised annually was three. The eggs were creamy white in color and had brown spots all over them. The incubation of the eggs was mostly performed by the female Guam broadbill, though the males also took part. After hatching, the young were taken care of by both parents before they left the nest at about 20 days.

What is their conservation status?

The Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti) has been evaluated and listed as Extinct in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Although the Guam broadbill population was stable before 1970, the species then suffered a sharp decline. This decline was caused by the introduction of their predator, the brown tree snake, to their habitat. The Guam flycatcher was last seen in Santa Rosa, Guam.

What do Guam flycatchers look like?

The Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti) was a small-sized bird located on the island of Guam. Male and female Guam broadbills differed in color. The males were a bluish-black color and the females were brownish-gray. The underside was white in color and both the male and the female had buff-colored breasts. The Guam flycatcher also had a wide bill with whiskers.

How cute are they?

Since there are not many pictures available of the Guam flycatcher, it is tough to determine exactly how cute they were.

How do they communicate?

Unfortunately, not much information is available regarding the communication patterns of the Extinct Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti).

How big is a Guam flycatcher?

The Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti) was small in size. This bird species was about 5 in (13 cm) long. It was smaller than a great crested flycatcher.

How fast can a Guam flycatcher move?

Unfortunately, the flying speed of the Guam flycatcher is not known.

How much does a Guam flycatcher weigh?

Not many records are available but the average weight of the Guam broadbill was about 0.4 oz (13 g). It was lighter than a vermillion flycatcher.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There were no unique names for the male and the female Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti).

What would you call a baby Guam flycatcher?

A baby Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti) would have been known as a chick or a fledgling, like all young ones belonging to the class Aves.

What do they eat?

This bird species was an insectivore and fed by gleaning insects from foliage. The name Guam flycatcher also tells us that they obtained their prey by making sallies and hawking insects mid-flight.

Are they dangerous?

The Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti) bird species is now Extinct, due to predation by the brown tree snake. However, they were not known to pose a threat or be dangerous to anyone.  

Would they make a good pet?

The Guam broadbill of the family Monarchidae belongs to a bird species that has been given the status of Extinct so it is not possible to keep them as pet birds.

Did you know...

The Guam flycatcher (Myiagra freycineti) was secretive in nature and usually kept to themselves in the limestone and ravine forests of Guam.

This bird species could be spotted performing aerial displays while hawking for its prey.

The whiskers on the long bills of the Guam broadbill helped it in locating its food.

The Guam flycatcher's extinction

Before the '70s, these birds were endemic and very common in the forests and thickets of Guam. Even during the '70s, these birds could be commonly seen. Their population saw a rapid decline and the threat of extinction after the Boiga irregularis, which is the scientific name of the brown tree snake, was introduced to the island in the '40s. These introduced snakes proliferated and were mostly found in areas with native birds. Since the island of Guam was small anyway and the species was endemic to the island, the bird numbers started declining and this bird species became extinct in the '80s.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our western wood pewee facts and bullfinch facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable least flycatcher coloring pages.

Main image by iNaturalist user: thibaudaronson

Second image by Aviceda

* We've been unable to source an image of a Guam flycatcher and have used an image of an oceanic flycatcher instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of the Guam flycatcher, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected].