The white-cheeked tody-flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.
Region
Western Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland and foothill forests of Peru, western Brazil (notably Acre and adjacent Amazonas), and northern Bolivia (e.g., Pando). Strongly associated with dense bamboo (especially Guadua) along rivers, in floodplain (várzea) edges, and in young secondary growth. It favors forest edges and clearings where bamboo forms extensive thickets and also occurs along stream corridors within terra firme. The species keeps to the lower to mid understory, usually within a few meters of the ground.
Altitude Range
100–900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny bamboo specialist of the western Amazon, the white-cheeked tody-flycatcher is easiest to detect by its striking white cheek and high, thin duet-like calls. It often stays low in dense Guadua bamboo, where it forages by short sallies and quick leaf-gleans. Pairs maintain small territories and frequently duet, which helps locate them in otherwise quiet understory. It can benefit from patches of regenerating bamboo along rivers but is sensitive to the loss of understory thickets.
Temperament
skulking but active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups holding small territories within bamboo thickets. Pairs often engage in antiphonal duets and may accompany mixed-species understory flocks along edges. Nests are typically small, domed or purse-like structures suspended low in dense vegetation, likely constructed from fine fibers and leaves.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives thin, high-pitched whistles and short buzzy trills, often in duets between pair members. Calls are sharp and carry surprisingly well through bamboo, aiding detection in dense cover.
Plumage
Compact, short-tailed flycatcher with olive-green upperparts and bright yellow underparts, offset by a crisp white cheek and throat. The crown and ear coverts are darker, forming a subtle mask that contrasts with the white face patch. Wings are dusky with pale buffy wingbars; tail is dark. Feathers are smooth and sleek, aiding quick movements through dense bamboo.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small insects and other arthropods such as beetles, flies, spiders, and caterpillars. It employs sally-gleaning and hover-gleaning, snatching prey from leaf surfaces, dead leaf clusters, and bamboo culms. Foraging is quick and methodical, with frequent short flights between perches.
Preferred Environment
Concentrates within dense bamboo stands, especially along rivers and at forest edges where sunlight promotes thick understory growth. Often forages 1–4 meters above ground, probing dead leaf clusters and branch tangles.
