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SCALE-CRESTED PYGMY TYRANT  Lophotriccus pileatus 9.5–10cm. Very

small but distinctive flycatcher of humid foothill forest and shrubby edges,

adjacent second-growth thickets. Mainly at low to mid-levels in shady cover;

feeds by short sallies to pluck from foliage. Crest usually held flat to produce

bushy nape; also note fine dark streaking below, amber eyes, cf. Northern Bent­

bill. Female has slightly smaller crest; juv. duller overall with pale cinnamon

crown, no crest. SOUNDS: Rather loud voice easily passed off as an insect or frog.

Ascending reedy prríep, often repeated steadily, and clipped, slightly nasal,

hollow rolled prrik. Song (?) a series of (usually 3–10) prrik calls, often slightly

descending, accelerating, or slowing overall, 4–5 notes/sec, at times repeated steadily; faster-paced, more

prolonged when agitated. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, mainly 300–1700m, locally down to

100m on Osa Peninsula. (Costa Rica to S America.)

SEPIA-CAPPED FLYCATCHER  Leptopogon amaurocephalus 12.5–13.5cm.

Humid forest and edge, taller second growth. Mainly at mid-levels in shady

understory; sallies for insects and also eats berries. Frequently flicks open one

wing at a time. Note brown crown, pale cinnamon wingbars and tertial edgings,

voice; cf. Slaty-capped Flycatcher of foothills. Juv. has brighter, buffier wingbars.

SOUNDS:  Infrequently heard. Rapid, rattling or spluttering trill, slightly

overslurred or descending overall, 1.5–2 secs; at times preceded by 1–2 sharp

clucking chips, whik, whik, prrrrrrrrrrru. STATUS: Uncommon to scarce on n.

Caribbean slope and in interior valleys of s. Pacific slope, mainly in lower

foothills, locally to 1300m. (Mexico to S America.)

*WESTERN SLATY-CAPPED FLYCATCHER  Leptopogon [superciliaris] tran­

sandinus 13–14cm. Humid foothill forest and edge, adjacent second growth.

Mainly at mid-levels; habits much like Sepia-capped Flycatcher but often more

active, frequently with mixed flocks. Note slaty-gray crown, pale yellowish to

pale cinnamon wingbars and tertial edgings, voice. Juv. has cinnamon wingbars,

crown tinged olive. SOUNDS: High, sharp, slightly sibilant siík, at times doubled

or repeated steadily; prolonged, slightly squeaky rippling chatter, 2–4 secs.

Song a slightly squeaky sík! chiíirr, 2nd note trilled and descending, repeated

steadily. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on both slopes, mainly 600–

1600m. (Costa Rica to nw. S America.)

*OLIVE-STREAKED [OLIVE-STRIPED] FLYCATCHER  Mionectes olivaceus

12.5–13.5cm. Distinctive, overall rather dark flycatcher of humid foothill and

highland forest and edge, adjacent second growth and shrubby clearings,

especially with fruiting trees and bushes. Perches low to high, slowly jerking its

head back and forth, quickly lifting one wing at a time; often at fruiting trees

and shrubs, sometimes with mixed flocks. Sings from perch in shady mid-story.

Note whitish teardrop, slender bill, finely streaked breast. Juv. duller overall

with fainter breast streaking, faint pale teardrop, buffy wing edgings; soon like

adult. SOUNDS: Mostly quiet. Song a very high, thin, whining or sibilant trilled

whistle that rises and falls gently, 2–7 secs overall with about 1 oscillation/sec; beyond the range of hearing

for many people. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, 600–2400m; some post-br. movement Aug–Jan

to adjacent Caribbean lowlands. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

*NORTHERN OCHRE-BELLIED FLYCATCHER  Mionectes [oleagineus] assim­

ilis 12–13cm. Distinctive but rather plain flycatcher of humid forest and edge,

adjacent second growth, gallery forest. Habits much like Olive-streaked Fly-

catcher, with distinctive slow head jerking. Sings from perch in shady, fairly open

mid-story, usually 2–3 males in a loose ‘lek.’ Note rounded head, slender bill,

ochre belly. SOUNDS: Song a repetition of sharply overslurred, bright nasal clucks,

every 1–2 secs, alternated with typically slightly faster bursts of down­slurred na-

sal yaps, whík whík...kyeh-kyeh-kyeh whík whík.…Infrequent calls include plain-

tive cheu and sharp plik. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, locally to

1200m; uncommon and local in drier nw. lowlands. (Mexico to n. S America.)