Gray-crowned Flatbill
Tolmomyias poliocephalus
Small, stocky flycatcher with broad, flat bill. Occupies canopy and midstory of forest edges, gardens, and tall second growth in humid lowlands. Has gray crown, pale yellow underparts, and yellow edgings to wing feathers (but not wingbars). Very similar to a few other species of flycatchers, particularly Yellow-margined and Yellow-olive Flycatchers; best distinguishing features include its pale eye, lack of a yellow patch at the base of the primaries, and voice. Call is a loud, quickly rising whistle: “tuee?”, higher and cleaner than similar calls from species like Brownish Twistwing and Blue-backed Manakin, but not as high as the “twee-twee” of Purple-throated Euphonia.
Identification
Tolmomyias flatbills are robust small birds with broad beaks. The grey-crowned flatbill is about 12 cm (4.7 in) long and has a generally yellowish-green plumage, a grey cap and nape, and a yellowish throat marked with grey. The iris is usually a pale colour and the mandible has a dark tip. Several species of flatbill overlap in their range and are easily confused with each other visually, but their songs are mostly distinctive. The grey-crowned flatbill's song is a series of whistles rising in pitch with the final whistle trembling – "tuee? tuee? TUEE? tuEEuEE? tuEEuEE?". The only other similar song in the genus is that of the yellow-margined flatbill (Tolmomyias assimilis) which has a more rasping quality; flatbills in this genus are difficult to tell apart and the voice is usually the best means of recognition. The stance of this species is more horizontal than other members of the genus, and it sometimes cocks its tail.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tolmomyias poliocephalus
- Authority
- (Taczanowski, 1884)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Tolmomyias
Range and habitat
The grey-crowned flatbill is native to the Amazon region of South America. Its range includes Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. Its maximum altitudinal range extends to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) or locally higher. It generally inhabits the middle and upper canopy of the rainforest as well as forest edges, river valleys and tall secondary forest growth. The nest is shaped like a bag and has a tubular entrance near the base; it is often hung near a wasp nest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-bellied Fantail
Rhipidura euryura
As the name indicates, a dark gray fantail with a white belly. Also note white eyebrow and white-tipped tail feathers. Malaysian Pied Fantail is somewhat similar, but has a bright white throat, is darker overall, and favors different habitats. Inhabits foothill and montane forests, where it is generally uncommon. Forages actively, often associating with mixed flocks, moving through the lower and middle levels of forest. Often in dense, tangled vegetation. Song is a jumble of high whistled notes. Calls include a quiet “ch’reer” and pips.
Least Nighthawk
Chordeiles pusillus
Small nightjar of savannas and dry forests, where it forages for insects with characteristic erratic flight like other nighthawks. Key field mark is contrasting pale trailing edge of wings. Often seen in large groups at dusk; when foraging with other species, Least is noticeably smaller. Least Nighthawks and related nighthawks are told from other nightjars by active foraging behavior. Roosts during the day on ground or in small savanna trees.
Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch
Carpodacus pulcherrimus
A rather dark and heavily marked rosefinch. Male is dark rosy-pink below and dark, streaky brown above with a dark pink brow. Female is brown and streaky with underparts streaking extending from the throat (where the streaks are extremely fine) to the belly (where the streaks are heavier and longer). Females also have a faint pale brow, but it is weak and not always noticeable; note the far more contrasting brow of Chinese and Himalayan White-browed Rosefinches. Inhabits montane and hilly scrub, forest edges, and village outskirts. Gives twitters and trills. The extremely similar Chinese Beautiful Rosefinch gives sharper and more metallic call notes than the Himalayan Beautiful Rosefinch.
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