Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher

Poecilotriccus capitalis

The Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher (Poecilotriccus capitalis) is a small, strikingly patterned passerine belonging to the Tyrannidae family, New World flycatchers. Measuring approximately 10-11 cm (4 inches) in length and weighing 7-10 grams, it boasts a distinctive appearance. Its most notable field marks are a bold black cap that contrasts sharply with a pristine white throat and malar region, giving it its common name. The upperparts are a dull olive-green, while the underparts are predom...

Habitat

Found in humid lowland evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, including forest edges and tall second growth, typically at elevations below 1,000 meters.

Diet

Primarily insectivorous, feeding on various small insects and other arthropods, which it captures by sallying and gleaning.

Behavior

This active, diurnal flycatcher is typically observed alone or in pairs, often staying well-concealed within the dense forest understory. Its primary foraging strategy involves sallying out from a low perch to snatch insects in mid-air or gleaning them deftly from the undersides of leaves and twi...

Range

The Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher is a resident species found throughout a wide swathe of tropical South America. Its primary distribution extends across the western and central Amazon Basin and adjacent regions. This includes southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Boliv...

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Fun Facts

- Despite its small size, the Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher's bold head pattern makes it surprisingly conspicuous to the careful observer. - It belongs to the Tyrannidae family, the largest bird family in the world, encompassing over 400 species of flycatchers. - Unlike many flycatchers that sp...

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