Other Scientific Names
Machetornis rixosus [BirdLife International (2004)], Machetornis rixosus [Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)], Machetornis rixosus [Stotz et al. (1996)]
Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosa) [XC318582]
by Sidnei Sampaio from San Bernardo Del Viento, C\u00f3rdoba, Colombia (duet, song)
Cattle Tyrant (Machetornis rixosa) [XC774776]
by Frank Lambert from Reserva Patevaca, Finca Pastora, Arauca, Colombia (song)
Subspecies
Affinities uncertain. Molecular and anatomical evidence suggests that superficial resemblance to Tyrannus is due to convergence. Subspecies obscurodorsalis possibly better merged with flavigularis as overlaps with latter in Venezuela and does not appear to be evolutionarily distinct, A closer examination is necessary. Also, some specimens of nominate from north-eastern Brazil (Piauí) closely approach flavigularis.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
flavigularis Todd, 1912 - Eastern Panama, northern and eastern Colombia (northern Chocó and upper R Sinú east to Guajira, south to southern Bolívar) and northern Venezuela (east to Guárico, western Anzoátegui and Delta Amacuro, south to northern Bolívar).
obscurodorsalis Phelps & Phelps Jr, 1948 - South-western Venezuela (Barinas, western Apure and southern Cojedes), eastern Colombia east of Andes (Norte de Santander south to southern Meta and Vichada) and eastern Ecuador.
rixosa (Vieillot, 1819) - Eastern and southern Brazil (extreme north-eastern Pará east to Rio Grande do Norte, and south to Rio Grande do Sul, also southern from southern Mato Grosso and Goiás), northern and eastern Bolivia (Beni and Santa Cruz south to Tarija), Paraguay, most of northern Argentina (south to San Luis, Córdoba and south-western Buenos Aires) and Uruguay.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet