The fulvous-breasted flatbill is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs along the Andean foothills and slopes of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Prefers humid subtropical to tropical montane forests, often at forest edges, along streams, and in shaded secondary growth. Commonly uses the midstory and understory, where it perches quietly in vine tangles and dense foliage. It can persist in semi-disturbed habitats, including forest borders and shaded coffee plantations, provided sufficient canopy cover remains.
Altitude Range
500–2200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A quietly unobtrusive tyrant flycatcher, the fulvous-breasted flatbill is best detected by its soft whistles rather than by movement. Its notably broad, flat-topped bill helps it glean insects from leaves and make short sallies in the forest midstory. It often joins mixed-species flocks in humid montane forests. Despite a wide Andean range, it can be locally scarce where forest is fragmented.
Temperament
quiet and inconspicuous
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief sallies
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs within territories, frequently associating with mixed-species flocks while foraging. Nests are well concealed in dense foliage, with both parents participating in care. Breeding is timed to local wet seasons in much of its range.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives soft, whistled notes and thin peeps, often a gentle two- to three-note phrase repeated at intervals. Also emits dry ticks and brief trills when agitated or within mixed flocks.
