Rhynchocyclus brevirostris
The Eye-ringed Flatbill (Rhynchocyclus brevirostris) is a distinctive passerine in the diverse Tyrannidae family, known for its small stature, typically measuring 12.5–14 cm (5.0–5.5 inches) in length and weighing 14–19 grams. Its appearance is characterized by olive-green upperparts, a dull yellowish-olive throat, and a brighter yellow belly, strikingly contrasted by a prominent white eye-ring that serves as a key identification mark. This species further stands out with its remarkably short...
This species primarily inhabits humid evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, including forest edges and riparian zones, typically found from lowlands up to elevations of 1,500 meters, occasionally reaching 2,000 meters.
Its diet consists mainly of insects, which it captures by sallying from a perch or gleaning from vegetation, supplemented with small fruits, especially berries, on occasion.
The Eye-ringed Flatbill is a diurnal and predominantly arboreal bird, often observed perching quietly in the mid-story to sub-canopy of forests before making agile aerial sallies. Its primary foraging strategy involves darting out to snatch flying insects in mid-air or gleaning them from foliage ...
The Eye-ringed Flatbill boasts a wide, resident distribution stretching from southern Mexico, specifically in states like Veracruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas, south through the entirety of Central America, encompassing Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Its range extends fu...
Least Concern
- The Eye-ringed Flatbill's remarkably short, broad, and flattened bill gives it a distinctive profile among flycatchers, perfectly adapted for snatching insects in flight. - Its prominent white eye-ring is a constant, year-round field mark, making it one of the easier flatbills to identify in th...