Southern Bentbill
Oncostoma olivaceum
A tiny well-named flycatcher with a distinctive bent bill like a broken nose. It is olive-green above with paler yellowish underparts. Note the pale gray eyes. Inconspicuous; typically seen singly in the understory of lowland forest, edge, and second-growth. Best detected by trilling calls. Occurs from Panama to Colombia; no range overlap with similar Northern Bentbill.
Identification
The southern bentbill (Oncostoma olivaceum) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia and Panama.
Taxonomy
The southern bentbill was originally described in 1862 as Todirostrum olivaceum . [ 3 ] It was later moved to genus Oncostoma that Philip Sclater had created that same year. [ 4 ] The southern bentbill is monotypic . [ 2 ] It shares genus Oncostoma with the northern bentbill ( O. cinereigulare ); in the early twentieth century at least one author considered them to be conspecific . The two form a superspecies . [ 2 ] [ 5 ]
- Scientific name
- Oncostoma olivaceum
- Authority
- (Lawrence, 1862)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Oncostoma
Range and habitat
The southern bentbill is found in central and eastern Panama from western Colón Province on the Caribbean side and the Canal Zone on the Pacific side. Its range continues into northern Colombia east most of the way to the Venezuelan border and south to Chocó and Cundinamarca departments. It inhabits the interior and edges of humid lowland evergreen forest , secondary woodlands , and shrubby clearings the tropical zone. In all landscapes it favors thickets and dense undergrowth. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 1,300 m (4,300 ft) . [ 4 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ]
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Lesser Nothura
Nothura minor
Sandy-colored tinamou that usually holds an upright posture. Has a brown crown and a heavily streaked back and throat. Occurs in grassland areas with scrub. The song is a series of metallic whistles: “peee peeeeee-peeep peeep peeep peeeeee.” The similar Spotted Nothura is larger and more rufescent and prefers areas with shorter grasses.
White-throated Greenbul
Phyllastrephus albigularis
A small, relatively long-billed greenbul found in the understory of disturbed forests and along forest edge. Often found in single- or multi-species flocks, flicking its wings and tail as it moves through the vegetation. Yellowish underparts contrast with gray-green back and wings and white throat. Has noticeable pale eyes and a gray face. Wing flicking can be reminiscent of Spotted Greenbul, but note White-throated Greenbul’s unicolored wings. Occurs with many other similarly colored greenbuls, but note White-throated Greenbul’s long bill and bright white throat that contrasts with the breast and face. Calls include sharp, cheerful “chupchup-tchurr!” notes.
Malabar Parakeet
Psittacula columboides
This striking parakeet is restricted to the forests of India’s Western Ghats. Bluish-gray male has a bright red upper bill and a black-and-blue collar. The greener female has an all-dark bill and a weaker black collar. Both sexes have blue in the wings and tail, though male’s is more prominent. Gives harsh, buzzy, high-pitched screeching, often as the birds shoot overhead. Favors forest and forest edge.
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