Ramphotrigon fuscicauda
The Dusky-tailed Flatbill (Ramphotrigon fuscicauda) is a distinctive member of the Tyrannidae family, known for its unusually broad, flattened bill, a characteristic shared with its genus name, meaning 'beak triangle'. This small Neotropical flycatcher typically measures 14.5-15 cm (5.7-5.9 inches) in length and weighs around 19-21 grams (0.67-0.74 oz). Its plumage is generally olive-brown on the upperparts, with a somewhat darker, dusky tail that gives the species its common name. Underparts...
Found primarily in humid lowland evergreen forest, often favoring areas with dense undergrowth, vine tangles, or near treefall gaps and water sources. Typically occurs at elevations below 500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of arthropods including beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders. Forages by sally-gleaning or sally-striking from low perches in dense vegetation.
Dusky-tailed Flatbills are diurnal and generally solitary or encountered in pairs, often staying low within the dense understory. They are sit-and-wait predators, employing a specialized foraging strategy known as sally-gleaning or sally-striking: perching quietly, they make short, quick flights ...
The Dusky-tailed Flatbill is a resident species found exclusively within the Amazon Basin of South America, with no migratory movements. Its breeding and year-round distribution spans southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and western Amazonian Brazil. Specificall...
Least Concern
- The Dusky-tailed Flatbill's genus name, Ramphotrigon, literally means 'beak triangle,' a direct reference to its remarkably broad, flattened, and triangular-shaped bill. - Unlike many flycatchers that sally out into the open air, this species predominantly uses a 'sally-gleaning' technique, sna...