Crowned Slaty Flycatcher

Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus

Medium-sized, grayish flycatcher, commonly encountered in the canopy of tall forest. One of the more prominent Austral migrants in South America, with the bulk of the population moving into the Amazon basin during the Austral winter, becoming a common sight from canopy towers. During the Austral summer, it prefers deciduous and semi-humid forests. Size, overall grayish coloration, darker cap and eyeline, and brownish tinge on the back make this species easy to identify. Generally quiet for a flycatcher; its high-pitched, buzzy song is mostly heard on the breeding grounds.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Empidonomus aurantioatrocristatus
Authority
(d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Tyrannidae
Genus
Empidonomus

Range and habitat

Migration
Complete migrants

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar

Vogelkop Owlet-nightjar

Aegotheles affinis

A mid-sized owlet-nightjar of lower montane forests. Strongly barred back and chest with a brown base, whitish belly and a pale collar. A large, fluffy-headed appearance. Often seen with its head sticking out of a tree cavity. The similar Wallace’s and Mountain Owlet-Nightjars may co-occur but Vogelkop Owlet-Nightjar has only barring on the chest and lacks the small white streaks, or flecks on the back. Vocalizations unknown.

Central American Pygmy-Owl

Central American Pygmy-Owl

Glaucidium griseiceps

Very small owl of humid evergreen forest in tropical lowlands that is active during the day. Favors forest canopy where it is rarely seen, but sometimes hunts low at forest edges. Most often detected by its tooting call, given at any time of day but mainly early and late. Like other pygmy-owls, presence often revealed by mobbing bands of small songbirds. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl favors more open habitats, is seen much more frequently, and has pale streaks (not spots) on the crown and a slightly different tooting song.

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo

Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus remifer

An ebony shadow trailing obsidian tresses. Medium-sized drongo with two extravagantly long tail feathers tipped with plumes, the shape of which vary throughout its range. Glossy black overall with red eyes. Juvenile duller and lacks streamers. Can be confused with the larger Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, but Lesser is crestless and oddly flat-headed, with a more square-ended tail. Inhabits mid- to high-altitude tropical forests, where it forages primarily under closed canopies, not venturing out into the open as frequently as Greater Racket-tailed. Joins mixed flocks. Impressive vocal range, giving highly variable songs that include bouncy hoots, ringing whistles, and harsh nasal notes, among others; also mimics other species.

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