Birds of North Carolina:
their Distribution and Abundance
Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus
TYRANNIDAE Members: 		Search Common:                 Search Scientific:
General Comments The Vermilion Flycatcher's normal range extends from the southwestern United States far into South America. In winter, it withdraws from part of the United States range, and birds frequently stray eastward along the Gulf Coast, though rarely to the Atlantic Coast. North Carolina has eight records of Vermilion Flycatcher (all but two reviewed and accepted by the NC BRC), all from the Coastal Plain; however, there is a wide range of dates, from Jul into Feb.
Breeding Status Nonbreeder
NC BRC List Definitive
State Status
U.S. Status
State Rank SZ
Global Rank G5
Coastal Plain Casual to very rare. One immature male was seen at Nags Head (Dare) on 1 Oct 1972 [Chat 45:45 link]; a second-year male was photographed at Pea Island NWR (Dare) on 4 Oct 1986 [Chat 51:77 link]; an immature male was seen on the grounds of Cherry Hospital near Goldsboro (Wayne) from 20 Nov - 2 Dec 2000 [Chat 66:3-4 link]; a female was seen by many birders and photographed near Bettie (Carteret) from 17 Dec 2006 - 4 Feb 2007 [Chat 72:9 link]; an adult male was seen on Ocean Isle Beach (Brunswick) on 20 Jul 2010 [Chat 74:113 link], [Chat 75:2 link]; an apparent first-year male was photographed at Mackay Island NWR (Currituck) on 12 Oct 2019 [Chat 84:24 link] (not yet reviewed by the NC BRC); an immature male near Williamston (Martin) from 8 Dec 2020 through 8 Feb 2021* [Chat 85:69 link]; and an apparent immature male was photographed at Bald Head Island (Brunswick) on 19 Oct 2022* [Chat 87:16 link].
Piedmont No records.
Mountains No records.
Finding Tips 1/2*
Attribution LeGrand[2023-05-16], LeGrand[2023-03-24], LeGrand[2023-03-20]
NC Map
Map depicts all counties with a report (transient or resident) for the species.		Click on county for list of all known species.