A few days ago at Jicaro Island Ecolodge, a little yellow bird fell out of the nest and sat on a rock next to reception. We protected him for two days and then he took off flying. His or her mother and father kept feeding him or her for the whole time. The baby was a Great Kiskadee, a member of the flycatcher family, all of which are referred to in Spanish as pecho amarillo, or “yellow breast.” It is a very common bird in pacific lowlands of Nicaragua and Costa Rica."It was a pleasure to watch the mother calling, finding food and feeding her young whilst it preened and stretched its wings and after a few days flew off to start a new life," said Karen Emanuel, owner of Jicaro Island Ecolodge. "It says a lot for the peace and tranquility and respect for nature on the island that at no time the mother or chick felt frightened or threatened by our presence."
Kisdadees are quite omnivorous for a flycatcher, eating fruit as well as insects, earthworms, spiders, and sometimes lizards and mice. They also eat fish and so are often found near water. Nesting season is about February to June, and Kiskadees usually build a loose dangling ball of fibers and straw on acacia trees or other tall trees. On our island, they build their nests on trees called Gumbo-Limbo or bursera simaruba. Sometimes the Great Kiskadee can be confused with the Social Flycatcher or Boat-billed Flycatcher, but the Great Kiskadee is bigger and can be easily identified by its call: KISS-KA-DEE!
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