ruby crimson maroon scarlet cinnamon rusty these are some of the fun words we use to describe reddish plumage colors in birds

but only a few bird species in the world are so brilliantly red that their name includes the word vermilion

this elegant word comes from the name of a pigment made from

the mineral cinnabar, for which the technical name is mercury sulfide. Vermillion has been used as a pigment

by various human cultures for thousands of years, for all sorts of decorative purposes.

One ancient use for it was as a cosmetic, as rouge, to color the cheeks or lips.

But that wasn't such a great idea, given that vermilion is super toxic, what with the mercury and all.

Returning to birds, we've got the vermillion cardinal, the vermilion tanager,

and today's featured creature, the vermillion flycatcher.

This little bird perches proudly and conspicuously on top of shrubs or on fence lines,

waiting for flying insects to snatch up in mid-air.

Vermillion flycatchers are solitary, but you sometimes see them in pairs. It's actually hard not to see these birds out in the field, at least the colorful males. Male vermilion

flycatchers look like little glowing red orbs,

sticking out like sore thumbs in their otherwise green and brown habitats. In South America,

one colloquial Spanish name for the vermilion flycatcher is Bracita de Fuego. That translates as

little ember of Fire.

Yeah, that's a pretty

fitting name for this outstanding bird.

Hello and welcome.

This is the Science of Birds.

I am your host, Ivan Philipson.

The Science of Birds podcast is a lighthearted, guided exploration of bird biology for lifelong learners.

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