Author: BrantaMedia.Com

_{This YouTube video was produced by the American Bird Conservancy.}

The Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) is a small but fierce bird of North American forests, known for its fearlessness in confronting birds much larger than itself, including formidable foes like Blue Jays and even hawks. They often share habitat and compete with American Redstarts, a fly-catching warbler, which they exclude from the best habitat through repeated chases and attacks. Of course, Least Flycatchers defend their territories from their neighbors as well.

However, despite their intense territoriality, these flycatchers are widely known to form dense clusters of breeding territories, even in

_{This YouTube video was produced by the American Bird Conservancy.}

Hummingbirds are a true wonder of the Americas – from their bright colors and speedy flight to their astonishing diversity (more than 360 species!) and incredible migrations. These tiny but mighty birds are unique to the Western Hemisphere and inhabit a wide range of habitats, including tropical rainforests, arid deserts, and even urban neighborhoods.

But hummingbirds are not so small, or so fast, that they can avoid the many threats to their survival, and many are in decline. At least 50 species are under threat across the Americas, including the

_{This YouTube video was produced by the American Bird Conservancy.}

The Emerald Tanager (Tangara florida) is truly a gem of the forest, roaming through the canopy in search of fruiting trees in the humid montane forests of Central and northern South America. Although primarily a fruit-eater, this species is also adept at hunting insects and other invertebrates on tree branches, deftly manipulating mosses with its bill in search of prey. This behavior sets it apart from other tanager species it often flocks with, but outside of the Emerald Tanager’s range, other specialized tanager species may fill this niche.

The Emerald