Lemon-browed Flycatcher Conopias cinchoneti Scientific name definitions

Fairly uncommon throughout its range, Lemon-browed Flycatcher inhabits edges and clearings in humid subtropical forest, where they frequently sit on bare twigs and treetops. Like related flycatchers, they sally out to catch insects in flight. They are quite vocal, giving a loud, stuttering "d'd'd'd'eeeeer" that can be heard at a distance. Visually, they are easily separated by similar species by the distinctive yellow superciliary. Often encountered in pairs or small groups, Lemon-browed Flycatchers also associate loosely with mixed flocks of other passerines. Although the Lemon-browed Flycatcher is widespread, occurring from Venezuela south to Peru, very little is known about the natural history of this species.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Sight records from La Paz, Bolivia (1 Herzog, S. K., M. Kessler, S. Maijer, and S. Hohnwald (1997). Distributional notes on birds of Andean dry forests in Bolivia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 117(3):223–235. Close ) (not assigned to subspecies) are considered hypothetical.

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SUBSPECIES

Conopias cinchoneti icterophrys Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Sierra de Perijá and Andes of W Venezuela (W slope in W Mérida and W Trujillo, E slope in NW Barinas), Colombia (locally in all three ranges, but doubtfully on E slope of E Andes) and extreme NW Ecuador (Carchi).

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SUBSPECIES

Conopias cinchoneti cinchoneti Scientific name definitions

Distribution

E Ecuador (foothills and subtropical zone on E slope) and N and C Andes of Peru (Cajamarca and Amazonas S to Cuzco).

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.

Little information. Likely to make use of old Psarocolius and Cacicus nests. One nest found in SE Ecuador located in abandoned Yellow-rumped Cacique (Cacicus cela) nest c. 18–20 m above ground in tall Lauraceae tree within pastureland 10–15 m from nearest secondary forest patch (2 Freile, J.F. and Moscoso, P. (2008). A nest of Lemon-browed Flycatcher Conopias cinchoneti. Cotinga. 30: 82–83. Close ). Group of three individuals observed at an inactive Russet-backed Oropendola (Psarocolius angustifrons) colony in E Ecuador, one bird briefly clinging to entrance of a nest, but not known whether they bred there. 

VULNERABLE. Rare to uncommon and local throughout its range. Fairly common only in E Ecuador, for example in Serranías Cofán (Sucumbíos). Sight records from La Paz, Bolivia (1 Herzog, S. K., M. Kessler, S. Maijer, and S. Hohnwald (1997). Distributional notes on birds of Andean dry forests in Bolivia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 117(3):223–235. Close ) are considered hypothetical, but would extend the species range southwards by several hundred km. No population estimates. Tolerant of some forest degradation. Based on a model of future deforestation in the Amazon basin (3 Soares-Filho, B. S., D. C. Nepstad, L. M. Curran, G. C. Cerqueira, R. A. Garcia, C. A. Ramos, E. Voll, A. McDonald, P. Lefebvre, and P. Schlesinger (2006). Modelling conservation in the Amazon Basin. Nature 440:520–523. Close ), this species is expected to lose 30% of suitable habitat within its distribution over three generations (11 years), and its population is projected to decline by a similar proportion (4 Bird, J. P., J. M. Buchanan, A. C. Lees, R. P. Clay, P. F. Develey, I. Yépez, and S. H. M. Butchart (2011). Integrating spatially explicit habitat projections into extinction risk assessments: a reassessment of Amazonian avifauna incorporating projected deforestation. Diversity and Distributions 18(3):432–439. Close ). Not previously considered to be of conservation concern; given its very small range and continuing habitat degradation, the species was uplisted to Vulnerable in 2012. Occurs in the lower elevation fringes of several protected areas: Sierra Nevada and Sierra de La Culata National Parks in Venezuela, Farallones de Cali National Park and Tambito Nature Reserve, in Colombia, Podocarpus National Park and Cayambe-Coca Biological Reserve, in Ecuador, and Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, in Peru.