Tolmomyias viridiceps
The Olive-faced Flatbill (*Tolmomyias viridiceps*) is a small, neotropical flycatcher, a member of the diverse Tyrannidae family, known for its distinctive flat bill and olive-green plumage. Measuring approximately 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) in length and weighing around 12-15 grams, it presents a rather uniform olive-green on its upperparts, with a somewhat greyer head and a conspicuous, pale, often whitish or yellowish, eye-ring that serves as a key identification mark. Its underparts are a ...
Found primarily in humid tropical and subtropical lowland forests, this species also extends into moist montane forests up to elevations of around 1,500 meters (4,900 feet). It favors the mid-story and subcanopy of mature forests and forest edges.
The primary diet consists of small to medium-sized insects, including flies, beetles, and caterpillars, which are captured through aerial sallies or gleaned from foliage.
Olive-faced Flatbills are diurnal insectivores, typically observed singly or in pairs, often participating in mixed-species foraging flocks, particularly during non-breeding seasons. Their foraging strategy involves short, agile sallies from a hidden perch to snatch insects in mid-air or glean th...
The Olive-faced Flatbill is widely distributed across the humid lowland and foothill forests of western South America. Its primary breeding range extends from southern Colombia, through eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru, into northern Bolivia and the western Amazon basin of Brazil, specifically in...
Least Concern
- The Olive-faced Flatbill's incredibly broad, flat bill is a specialized tool, acting like a tiny insect-catching net, distinguishing it from many other flycatchers. - They are known for their clever nesting strategy, often building their pendulous, pouch-like nests close to active wasp or ant n...