Ramphotrigon megacephalum
The Large-headed Flatbill, *Ramphotrigon megacephalum*, is a captivating member of the Tyrannidae family, distinguished by its disproportionately large head and broad, flattened bill. Measuring approximately 15 cm (6 inches) in length and weighing 18-22 grams, this flycatcher sports olive-green upperparts, a contrasting bright yellow belly, and distinctive rufous edgings on its primary feathers and tail, making it subtly colorful yet often elusive. Its most prominent field marks include the r...
Found primarily in the understory and mid-story of humid lowland forests, favoring várzea, gallery, and seasonally flooded forests, often near water bodies, at elevations typically below 1,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of arthropods including beetles, grasshoppers, moths, and spiders, which it captures by sally-gleaning or sally-striking from vegetation.
This diurnal species is generally solitary or found in pairs, often perching motionless for extended periods in dense foliage, making it quite elusive. Its primary foraging strategy involves sally-gleaning or sally-striking, where it darts out from a perch to snatch insects from leaves, branches,...
The Large-headed Flatbill has a broad but highly disjunct distribution across South America, primarily within humid lowland forests. Its range includes separate populations found in northern South America, extending from eastern Colombia and southern Venezuela through the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam...
Least Concern
- Its common name, 'Large-headed Flatbill,' perfectly describes its most striking feature: an oversized head coupled with a remarkably broad, flattened bill. - Despite its relatively widespread distribution, the Large-headed Flatbill is often considered one of the more difficult tyrant-flycatcher...