Orange-eyed Flatbill
Tolmomyias traylori
Rare flycatcher found in seasonally flooded swamp forest in lowlands east of the Andes. Pale eye, wide bill, buffy throat and breast, gray crown, and lack of facial markings help separate it from similar species such as Gray-crowned Flycatcher. It is typically seen quite high in the trees, but usually not in the forest canopy. Song is a series of emphatic, raspy squeaks.
Identification
The orange-eyed flatbill grows to a length of about 13 cm (5 in). It has olive upper parts and a greyish crown. The facial area, throat and chest are greyish-buff and the belly yellowish. The iris is orange, and this and the buff throat is distinctive and helps distinguish this bird from other species in the genus. The song is a series of five to seven notes "zhreee", more extended and more rasping than the yellow-breasted flatbill (Tolmomyias flaviventris). The flatbills in this genus are difficult to tell apart and are most easily recognised by their song.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Tolmomyias traylori
- Authority
- Schulenberg & Parker, TA, 1997
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Tolmomyias
Range and habitat
The orange-eyed flatbill is found in northwestern Amazonia, its range extending from southeastern Colombia, through eastern Ecuador to northeastern Peru. It appears to replace the yellow-olive flatbill (Tolmomyias sulphurescens) to the north of the Amazon River and is also present on large islands in the river. It favours the mid-storey of moderately-high and tall, seasonally-flooded Várzea forest. It is usually seen by itself or in pairs, and seldom joins mixed flocks. Like other members of the genus, the bag-shaped nest has a tubular entrance near the base and is often hung near a wasp nest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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