The rufous-tailed flatbill is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Region
Amazon Basin and the Guianas
Typical Environment
Found widely in tropical lowland evergreen forests across Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. It uses terra firme and seasonally flooded (várzea) forests, often favoring the midstory and edges with dense understory. The species can occur in bamboo thickets and along quiet forest streams. It tolerates light disturbance but is most frequent in continuous forest.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A broad-billed tyrant flycatcher of lowland tropical forests, the rufous-tailed flatbill is named for its distinctive rufous tail and notably flattened bill. It often keeps to the shadowy midstory, where it gleans insects from foliage and makes short sallies. Its soft, buzzy calls can be easily overlooked in dense forest. The species occurs widely across the Amazon and Guianas and is generally considered common where habitat remains intact.
Temperament
shy and quiet
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief sallies
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs within the midstory. It may join mixed-species flocks on occasion but remains unobtrusive. Nesting is presumed to be a simple open cup placed low to mid-level in dense vegetation.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives soft, buzzy trills and thin whistled notes that carry poorly in dense foliage. Call notes include dry ticks and short churrs, often delivered from a shaded perch.
