The slaty-headed tody-flycatcher, or slate-headed tody-flycatcher, is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, and possibly French Guiana.
Region
Central America and northern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Mexico through Central America into northern South America, including Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, and northern Brazil. It favors forest edges, secondary growth, scrub, riverine woodland, and plantations. Often seen in shaded understory and midstory near clearings or along streams. It adapts well to lightly disturbed habitats and may visit gardens near forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny tyrant flycatcher, the slaty-headed tody-flycatcher is often seen in pairs flicking its tail while gleaning insects from foliage. It frequents forest edges and second growth, making it relatively tolerant of disturbed habitats. Its hanging, pouch-like nest with a side entrance is characteristic of tody-flycatchers.
Temperament
active and somewhat territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief sallies
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks. Pairs maintain small territories and communicate with sharp calls. They build a hanging, pouch-like nest with a side entrance, placed low to mid-level in vegetation; both parents tend the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of thin, high-pitched tseep notes and brief trills, often delivered in quick sequences. Calls are sharp and penetrating, used for pair contact and territory advertisement.
Plumage
Compact with a slaty-gray head contrasting with olive upperparts and yellow to yellowish-olive underparts; wings dusky with paler edging. Tail often held cocked. Feathers appear smooth with subtle edging on wing coverts.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small insects and other arthropods, gleaned from leaves, twigs, and bark. Frequently hover-gleans to pick prey from the undersides of foliage. Makes short sallies to capture flushed insects and occasionally hawks briefly in mid-air. Diet may include small spiders and larvae.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the understory and midstory along forest edges, clearings, and second-growth thickets. Common along streams, trails, and in semi-open woodland and plantations with scattered trees.
