Poecilotriccus sylvia
The Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher (Poecilotriccus sylvia) is a diminutive and distinctive member of the tyrant flycatcher family, Tyrannidae, averaging just 9-10 cm (3.5-4 inches) in length and weighing a mere 7-8 grams. Its most prominent field mark is its slaty-gray crown and nape, which contrasts sharply with an olive-green back and rump. Dark wings are adorned with two bright yellowish or whitish wing-bars, while its underparts are pale yellow, often brighter on the belly, transitioning to...
Inhabits the understory and mid-story of humid to semi-humid evergreen and deciduous forests, forest edges, and secondary growth, often near water, typically from sea level up to 1,200 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small arthropods such as beetles, flies, wasps, and caterpillars, which it catches in flight or gleans from foliage.
A diurnal and highly active bird, the Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher is usually observed alone or in pairs, darting through the forest understory. Its foraging strategy is classic for a tody-flycatcher: it sallies out from a perch in a quick, acrobatic maneuver to snatch small insects from the unde...
The Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher is a widespread resident species found across a broad neotropical distribution, extending from southeastern Mexico through Central America and into northern South America. In Mexico, it occurs along the Gulf slope from Veracruz and Oaxaca, eastward across the Yuca...
Least Concern
- The Slaty-headed Tody-Flycatcher's name refers to its distinctive dark gray crown, a key identification feature. - Its bill is remarkably flat and broad, perfectly adapted for rapidly snapping up insects from leaves or in mid-air. - This tiny bird typically weighs less than a U.S. quarter coin,...