Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher (Poecilotriccus ruficeps)

Identification & Behavior: ~9.5 cm (3.7 in). The Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher has a yellow-greenish mantle, a rufous crown, and buffy or pale cheeks outlined with black. The wing coverts are blackish edged with yellowish forming two yellowish wing bars. The throat is whitish. The breast is blackish grading to yellow towards the rest of the underparts. The iris is dark. The bill is black. It forages in the understory of humid montane forest and also in tall second growth.  It is similar to the closely related Johnson’s Tody-Flycatcher but they replace each other geographically on both sides of the Marañon River.

Status: The Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher is uncommon in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes on the north side of the Marañon Valley at elevations ranging between 2400-2900 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Espatulilla de Corona Rufa.

Sub-species: Rufous-crowned Tody-Flycatcher (Poecilotriccus ruficeps), Chapman, 1924.

Meaning of Name: Poecilotriccus: Gr. poikilos= variegated and trikkos= unidentified small bird. ruficeps: L. rufus= red, ruddy and ceps= headed.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae