Empidonax atriceps
The Black-capped Flycatcher (Empidonax atriceps) is a diminutive yet striking Neotropical songbird belonging to the notoriously challenging Empidonax genus, often dubbed “Empids” by birders due to their subtle identification cues. Measuring approximately 12-13 cm in length and weighing a mere 9-11 grams, this species is characterized by its distinct, dark gray to black cap that contrasts sharply with an olive-green back and yellowish-olive rump. Its underparts transition from a white throat t...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane cloud forests, forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth at elevations typically ranging from 1,200 to 3,000 meters above sea level.
The Black-capped Flycatcher is primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of small flying insects and arthropods captured through aerial sallies and gleaning from foliage.
Black-capped Flycatchers are diurnal insectivores, actively foraging throughout the day from perches within the forest understory or canopy edges. They employ a classic "sally-glean" or "sally-strike" foraging strategy, perching motionless before darting out to snatch flying insects from the air ...
The Black-capped Flycatcher is a resident species endemic to the highlands of Central America, with its distribution primarily centered in Costa Rica and western Panama. In Costa Rica, it is found in the Tilarán, Central, and Talamanca mountain ranges, extending southwards. Its range continues in...
Least Concern
- The Black-capped Flycatcher is one of the few Empidonax species that typically lacks a prominent eye-ring, a key identifier in a genus known for its "little green jobs. - Its preferred habitat is the misty, high-altitude cloud forests of Central America, making it a specialized montane species....