Dull-capped Attila
Attila bolivianus
Big-headed flycatcher of humid rainforest midstory. Rich red-brown with a slightly grayer head and pale eye. Perches with upright posture and appears rather stocky, with a short tail, large head, and heavy bill. Pale eye and fairly dark plumage help distinguish it from other attilas, as does voice. Listen for a rising series of whistles, usually finished with a lower note: “weer, weer, weer, weer, woo”; sounds melancholy, without the upbeat, double-syllable note phrasing of Bright-rumped Attila.
Identification
The white-eyed attila measures around 19–22 cm (7.5–8.7 in) and weighs 40–45 g (1.4–1.6 oz). It has striking pale yellow-white eyes
Taxonomy
The species Attila bolivianus was first described by French ornithologist Frédéric de Lafresnaye in 1848. There are two subspecies of Attila bolivianus recognized by the International Ornithological Committee and the Clements checklist:
- Scientific name
- Attila bolivianus
- Authority
- Lafresnaye, 1848
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Attila
Range and habitat
In Peru, the white-eyed attila is widespread in the eastern low-laying areas, generally south of the Amazon River.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The white-eyed attila generally preys on arthropods and sometimes eats fruit. It perches and scans its surroundings outward, usually from a well-lit area. When it finds its food, it rapidly flies toward it and snatches it off the surface it was on, or it may engage in hover-gleaning, first hovering then glean its prey from foliage.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-rumped Kingfisher
Caridonax fulgidus
A distinctive large forest kingfisher with entirely dark purplish upperparts, except for its white rump. Also shows clean white underparts and a vivid orange bill. Juveniles darker, less purple above, with yellowish bill, buff coloring on breast, and dark eyes. Occurs singly or in pairs inside lowland and foothill forest, including in degraded patches, within the upper levels of the understory. Conspicuous call is a “kow-kow-kow-kow…” given repeatedly, mostly early and late in the day.
Moustached Tinkerbird
Pogoniulus leucomystax
Small, olive-green tinkerbird. There are yellow patches on the wing and rump and a white slash on the face. Found in and around montane forest at middle and high elevations. Most often detected by voice: a chirpy series of “tek” notes, which varies from a fairly slow series of 3-4 notes to a long series of very fast notes. Very similar to Green Tinkerbird, but only overlaps slightly in range, and separated by the white facial mark.
Short-tailed Lark
Spizocorys fremantlii
An unusual and distinctive lark with a large bill and a short tail. Note the black “tear” mark below the eye. Plumage varies geographically; this lark is sandy brown in the northern part of the range and dark brown in the south. Found in dry, short grassland, usually within savanna environments, generally in small flocks. Somewhat similar to Thekla Lark, but has a larger bill and a shorter tail, and lacks a crest. The song includes short series of well-spaced slurred whistles. The typical call is a nasal whistle.
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