Fulvous-breasted flatbill

Rhynchocyclus fulvipectus

Photo by Nick Athanas (Antpitta)

Common name:
fulvous-breasted flatbill (en); bico-chato-de-peito-ruivo (pt); platyrhynque à poitrine fauve (fr); picoplano pechirrufo (es); ockerbrust-breitschnabeltyrann (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Range:
This South American species is found from Venezuela, through Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and into Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 15 cm long and weigh 25-30 g.

Habitat:
The fulvous-breasted flatbill is mostly found in mountain rainforests, especially along rivers ans streams. They also use rainforests in lowland areas. This species is present at altitudes of 750-2.300 m.

Diet:
They are insectivorous, taking various small insects and other invertebrates.

Breeding:
Fulvous-breasted flatbills breed in August-December. The nest is a domed structure with a side entrance opening towards the ground, made of plant fibres, mosses, ferns and dry roots. It is attached to the end of a branch, overhanging a stream 3-12 m above the water. The female lays 1-3 white eggs, sometimes with reddish spots. She incubates the eggs alone for 24 days. The chicks fledge 29 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as uncommon. It is suspected to loose 20% of suitable habitat within its range, based on a model of Amazonian deforestation. Therefore, the fulvous-breasted flatbill is expected to decline at a moderate rate in the near future.