Tolmomyias poliocephalus
The Grey-crowned Flatbill (*Tolmomyias poliocephalus*) is a small, vibrant songbird belonging to the diverse Tyrannidae family, the largest bird family in the Americas. Averaging 12.5-14 cm (4.9-5.5 in) in length and weighing around 12-16 grams, its most striking feature is its broad, flattened bill, dark on the upper mandible and pale below, perfectly adapted for insect capture. Its plumage is characterized by a distinctive grey crown and nape, contrasting with olive-green upperparts and bri...
This species primarily inhabits lowland humid forests, forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth, often near rivers, from sea level up to around 1,500 meters (occasionally higher).
Its diet consists predominantly of insects and other arthropods, which it captures by flycatching or gleaning from foliage, occasionally supplementing with small fruits.
The Grey-crowned Flatbill is a diurnal and active insectivore, typically foraging in the mid-story and canopy of its forest habitats. It employs a variety of foraging techniques, including sallying out to catch insects in flight (flycatching), gleaning prey from foliage, and sometimes hovering. T...
The Grey-crowned Flatbill is a widespread resident species found across much of northern and central South America. Its breeding range extends from eastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), south through vast portions of Amazonia...
Least Concern
- The Grey-crowned Flatbill is a master of 'natural security,' often building its nest directly beneath active wasp or hornet nests to deter predators. - Its name, 'Flatbill,' directly refers to its distinctive, broad, and flattened bill, perfectly shaped for snatching insects in flight. - This s...