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BLACK-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER  Todirostrum nigriceps 7.5–8.5cm.

Tiny, rather short-tailed flycatcher of humid forest and edge, adjacent second

growth, plantations. Typically in canopy and easily overlooked if not vocal;

makes short sallies for prey snatched from foliage. Distinctive, with black head,

dark eyes, white throat, cf. Common Tody-Flycatcher, mainly in more open,

second-growth habitats but occurs alongside Black-headed at forest edge. Juv.

duller overall, soon like adult. SOUNDS: Measured series of (usually 5–15) high,

sharp, downslurred metallic chips, tchik tchik..., or chink chink..., about 2/sec.

STATUS: Fairly common on Caribbean slope to 1000m, rarely 1500m; spills

over locally to n. Pacific foothills. (Honduras to nw. S America.)

COMMON TODY-FLYCATCHER  Todirostrum cinereum 9–10cm. Handsome

and rather distinctive little flycatcher of varied open and semi-open habitats,

from farmland with hedgerows and scattered trees to mangroves, rainforest

edge, second growth. Forages low to high, mainly at low to mid-levels. Often in

pairs, turning its head slowly and staring about curiously, loosely swinging its

cocked tail, and darting quickly after prey. Note fairly long cocked tail with

graduated white tips, staring pale eyes in blackish hood. Juv. has duller eyes,

dingier plumage. SOUNDS: Hard smacking chk suggests a warbler, often repeated

steadily; short, high twittering trill often repeated quickly 2–6×, till-ill-ill, recalls

Middle American Kingbird. STATUS: Common to fairly common on both slopes, mostly below 1500m.

(Mexico to S America.)

SLATE-HEADED TODY-FLYCATCHER  Poecilotriccus sylvia 9–10cm. Skulk­

ing and easily overlooked in thickets and tangles at lowland forest edge, in

second growth, sometimes with bamboo. Hops inconspicuously in dense tangles,

rarely in open at edges. Told from Northern Bentbill by habits, white spectacles,

longer and straight bill; voice can suggest some bentbill calls. Juv. has duller eyes,

olive head. SOUNDS: Abrupt, frog-like cluck and short growling churr, often

combined, pc prrrrr. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on s. Pacific slope,

uncommon to scarce and local in nw. lowlands and on Caribbean slope; locally

to 1500m. (Mexico to S America.)

BLACK-CAPPED PYGMY TYRANT  Myiornis atricapillus 6–7 cm. Tiny, ‘tail-

less’ flycatcher of lowland forest, adjacent taller second growth; resides mainly

in canopy, but nests in understory. Forages by quick darting sallies to pluck

insects and such from foliage. Difficult to spot when it sits still in canopy, given

its tiny size, but distinctive when seen: note very short tail, cute face with

whitish spectacles, habits. Juv. has crown washed brownish, upperparts duller

with buffy wingbars. SOUNDS: Underwhelming, high-pitched calls easily passed

over as an insect or frog. Upslurred, high burry tssiirr and abrupt, high rising

tsiik! often repeated or alternated every 1–5 secs. STATUS:  Uncommon on

Caribbean slope, to 700m. (Costa Rica to nw. Ecuador.)

NORTHERN BENTBILL  Oncostoma cinereigulare 9.5–10.5cm. Forest under­

story and edge, second-growth thickets. At low to mid-levels, often in fairly

open understory with thin branches and vines. Perches fairly upright, often

leaning forward slightly; sallies in foliage. Tiny size, pale eyes, thin pinkish legs,

and eponymous bent bill distinctive; cf. Slate-headed Tody-Flycatcher. Juv. has

duller eyes, olive head, buffy wingbars. SOUNDS: Varied low churrs and clucks,

most often a drawn-out, frog-like urrrrrrr, 1–1.5 secs. Song (?) a slightly

stuttering pirrrip pirrrip p-p-prrrr, 1st note 1–3×. STATUS: Fairly common to

uncommon on both slopes, to 1200m on Pacific slope, to 1000m on Caribbean

slope. (Mexico to w. Panama.)