Cattle Tyrant

SCI Name:  Machetornis rixosa
Protonym:  Tyrannus rixosus Nouv.Dict.Hist.Nat. 35 p.85
Taxonomy:  Passeriformes / Tyrannidae / Machetornis
Taxonomy Code:  cattyr
Type Locality:  Paraguay.
Author:  Vieillot
Publish Year:  1819
IUCN Status:  Least Concern

DEFINITIONS

MACHETORNIS
(Tyrannidae; Ϯ Cattle Tyrant M. rixosa) Gr. μαχητης makhētēs fighter, warrior  < μαχη makhē  battle  < μαχομαι makhomai  to fight; ορνις ornis, ορνιθος ornithos  bird; "MACHETORNIS, G. R. Gray (1841).  Chrysolophus ^a, Swains. (1837).  Muscicapa, Spix.  Tyrannus, Vieill.  Pepoaza, D'Orb. et Lafr.   M. rixosa, (Vieill.) G. R. Gray.  M. Joaziero, Spix's Av. Br., pl. 23.  C. ambulans, Swains.   ...   ^a Previously used in Entomology." (G. Gray 1841). The Cattle Tyrant has the pugnacious habits typical of tyrant flycatchers, and sometimes appropriates the nests of other small birds for its own use.
Var. Machaetornis.
Synon. Chrysolophus.

rixosa / rixosus
L. rixosus  pugnacious, quarrelsome  < rixare  to quarrel  < rixa  brawl; ex “Suirirí” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 197 (Machetornis).

SUBSPECIES

Cattle Tyrant (flavigularis)
SCI Name: Machetornis rixosa flavigularis
flavigularis
L. flavus yellow, golden-yellow; Mod. L. gularis throated < L. gula throat.

Cattle Tyrant (obscurodorsalis)
SCI Name: Machetornis rixosa obscurodorsalis
obscurodorsalis
L. obscurus  dark, dusky; dorsalis (properly dorsualis)  dorsal, of the back  < dorsum  back.

Cattle Tyrant (rixosa)
SCI Name: Machetornis rixosa rixosa
rixosa / rixosus
L. rixosus  pugnacious, quarrelsome  < rixare  to quarrel  < rixa  brawl; ex “Suirirí” of de Azara 1802-1805, no. 197 (Machetornis).