Black-tailed Flycatcher Myiobius atricaudus Scientific name definitions

The Black-tailed Flycatcher is a relatively distinctive and fairly common flycatcher with a widespread distribution; it occurs from southwest Costa Rica south over the Pacific slope of South America to northwest Peru, and then reappears east of the Andes, being found across Amazonia south of the Amazon and south to southeast Brazil. Up to seven different subspecies are recognized, although not all of them are especially distinctive. Across this broad range, the species inhabits the undergrowth in a variety of different forest habitats, including seasonally flooded areas and gallery woodland. Black-tailed Flycatcher occurs to approximately 1400 m. This species regularly joins mixed-species flocks and occurs alone or in pairs. It constructs a pyriform nest that is bell-shaped, suspended from a branch several meters above the ground.

12–12·7 cm; 10 g. Large eyes, prominent long rictal bristles. Nominate race has crown, nape and back dark olive-green, semi-concealed yellow coronal patch, paler loral region, pale eyering broader to rear, greyer face; rump sulphur-yellow, uppertail-coverts black; wings dark with olive feather edges; tail long, rounded, black; throat dirty white, chestband dull tawny-buff or olive-buff, belly dull yellow; iris dark; bill broad, upper mandible grey to black, lower mandible pinkish to dusky pink with darker tip; legs grey. Sexes similar, but female has coronal patch smaller than male’s. Immature resembles adult, but lacks yellow coronal patch. Races vary mainly in warmth of olive tone on chest, degree and intensity of yellow on belly, and coloration of rump: portovelae has breastband much warmer ochre-olive (warmest of “banded” races), belly brighter yellow; modestus has breastband slightly more ochre-tinged than nominate but still somewhat dull, not nearly so warm as previous; adjacens is in general somewhat paler than nominate, rump whiter, chest more buffy; connectens is rather dull, chest brownish-buff, rump whitish; snethlagei is distinctive, rump brighter yellow with slight orange-buff tinge, solid yellow below, slightly brighter on throat and breast (but no breastband effect); ridgwayi is also distinctive, similar in pattern to previous, but rump and underparts orange-buff, slightly richer on breast (no breastband), slightly browner on upperparts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.