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    VIVO Expeditions
    Royal Flycatcher — Nesting Season

    Boca Tapada · Operated with Edward Vargas

    Royal Flycatcher — Nesting Season

    One of the tropics' most bizarre birds — long dangling pendant nest and hidden crimson crown.

    • 3 hours
    • April – June only
    • 2–4 photographers
    Request Availability · from $90 pp

    No payment is taken now.

    Duration

    3 hours

    Start time

    6:00 AM

    Season

    April – June only

    Group size

    2–4 photographers

    Difficulty

    Easy · flat forest trail

    Available months

    • Jan
    • Feb
    • Mar
    • Apr
    • May
    • Jun
    • Jul
    • Aug
    • Sep
    • Oct
    • Nov
    • Dec

    The experience

    The Northern Royal Flycatcher (Onychorhynchus coronatus) builds a spectacular 1–2 m long pendant nest suspended over forest streams. Females sit tight during incubation and feeding. The famous coronet — a fan of red-orange feathers tipped in violet — is only displayed during pair interactions or when startled. Edward's site is an active nest along a shaded forest stream; observation from ~8–10 m through natural vegetation gap. Chick-provisioning trips occur every 15–25 min in April–May.

    Target species

    • Northern Royal Flycatcher

      Onychorhynchus mexicanus

    • White-collared Manakin

      Manacus candei

    • Chestnut-backed Antbird

      Poliocrania exsul

    • Broad-billed Motmot

      Electron platyrhynchum

    Edward's field tips

    Don't expect the crown display — it's very rare during nesting. The nest itself and the delicate female at the entrance are the real prize. Keep voices to a whisper.

    Plan around early starts

    Where to stay in Boca Tapada

    Sessions start early — staying in the zone is strongly recommended. Transport is coordinated by VIVO inside the booking flow.

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