The Piratic Flycatcher is distributed from Mexico through Central America and through most of tropical and sub-tropical South America although it does not seem to occur in the interior of north-east Brazil. See the distribution map at xeno-canto.

It is olive-brown above with a long white supercilium, whitish malar bordered by a thin dark streak below. The bill is short, the wings are plain but with pale edges to the feathers, the throat is white while the breast has indistinct dark streaks above the pale yellow of the belly.

The piratic element comes form its habit of stealing nests from species such as caciques and oropendolas by chasing the rightful owners away.

Although it is a flycatcher, it preys on insects only during the breeding season while at other times it eats fruit.