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EYE-RINGED FLATBILL  Rhynchocyclus brevirostris 15–16.5cm. Humid low­

land and foothill forest, taller second growth. Mainly at mid-levels; often quiet,

overlooked easily; joins mixed flocks. Distinctive, with big head, contrasting

white eyering, overall olive head and upperparts with yellowish wing edgings.

SOUNDS: Easily passed off as an insect. Song a series of (usually 2–5) high,

lisping, slightly rough upslurred notes, 1st note(s) often longer, such as zzzzíh

zzzi-zzzi-zzi; notes longer, closer-spaced than Sclater’s Flatbill. Also single

ssshirrrr, harsher, more steeply rising than Sclater’s, and short harsh zhhih.

STATUS: Uncommon on both slopes, to 2100m on s. Pacific slope, to 1700m on

Caribbean slope. (Mexico to nw. Colombia.)

*SCLATER’S [YELLOW-OLIVE] FLATBILL  Tolmomyias [sulphurescens] cinere­

iceps 12.5–13.5cm. Humid forest and edge, gallery forest, second growth,

plantations; where Yellow-margined Flatbill also occurs, Sclater’s typically around

clearings and in second growth vs. forest canopy. Mainly at mid-levels. Sallies to

snatch insects from foliage; often holds tail slightly cocked. Best told from

Yellow-margined by voice; also note pale eyes (darker on imm.), wholly pale

mandible (often extensively dark-tipped on Yellow-margined, but can be mostly

pale), pinkish legs, less contrasting yellowish edges to wing coverts. SOUNDS: Easily

passed off as an insect. Song a series of (usually 2–5) high, lisping, slightly shrill

upslurred notes in measured, often slightly intensifying series, 1–1.5 secs between notes, such as sssih sssih

sssih sssih. Call a quiet lisping sssi. STATUS: Fairly common on Pacific slope, uncommon to fairly common on

Caribbean slope, to 1600m. (Mexico to w. Panama.)

*PANAMA [YELLOW-OLIVE] FLATBILL  Tolmomyias [sulphurescens] flavoolivaceus occurs in Pacific

lowlands of w. Panama; may be overlooked in adjacent Costa Rica. Told from Sclater’s Flatbill by voice,

olive tinge to head, pale brownish eyes, more-distinct wingbars. SOUNDS: High, sharp, downslurred chiik

in measured series, usually 3–4×, and single high sharp chik!

YELLOW-MARGINED FLATBILL  Tolmomyias [assimilis] flavotectus 12–13cm.

Humid forest, adjacent taller second growth. Mainly at mid–upper levels, often

in canopy; joins mixed flocks. Habits like Sclater’s Flatbill, which see for

differences. Juv. has broader, less distinct wing edgings tinged buffy. SOUNDS: Song

a series of (usually 4–7) slightly shrill, emphatic, sharply overslurred whistled

notes in slightly intensifying series, 1st note lower, slightly quieter: tsii ssíeh ssíeh

ssíeh ssíeh, 2–3 notes/sec; quality suggests slurred Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Call

an emphatic single psiéh. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common on Caribbean

slope, to 1000m. (Honduras to nw. Ecuador.)

YELLOW TYRANNULET  Capsiempis flaveola 10–11cm. Small, slender, long-

tailed flycatcher of humid second growth, overgrown pastures with shrubs,

bamboo, small trees, hedgerows. Often in pairs; forages with hops and short

fluttering sallies, plucking from foliage. Distinctive: note shape and habits, yel-

lowish brow and underparts, pale wingbars. Juv. duller overall, wingbars buffier.

SOUNDS: Bright nasal piic and upslurred puic, can be given singly, repeated

steadily, or run into fairly rapid series with slightly excited, pulsating cadence,

4–5 notes/sec. Also more-complex, rhythmic bickering chatters, p-pidic pid-i

pid-i pidik.…STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, to 1200m on s. Pacific

slope, to 800m on Caribbean slope. (Nicaragua to S America.)

TAWNY-CHESTED FLYCATCHER  Aphanotriccus capitalis 11.5–12.5cm. Rath-

er retiring small flycatcher of humid forest, adjacent second-growth thickets, of-

ten along streams in shady understory; forages by short sallies to snatch food from

vegetation. No similar species in Costa Rica: note narrow whitish spectacles on

gray head, cinnamon wingbars, tawny breast (duller on juv.); plus habits, voice.

SOUNDS: Slightly explosive tchéu! suggesting burry Yellow-bellied Flycatcher call;

chirping clipped chet, sometimes doubled. Song a slightly accelerating and often

stuttering series of (usually 3–7) chips, ascending slightly and ending emphatical-

ly with a burry note, 0.5–1.5 secs, such as chp chp-chp chp chp-chupeéuh.

STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common locally on n. Caribbean slope, to 1000m. (Honduras to Costa Rica.)