Rufous-tailed flatbill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rufous-tailed flatbill |
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| Genus: |
Ramphotrigon
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| Species: |
ruficauda
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The rufous-tailed flatbill (Ramphotrigon ruficauda) is a type of bird. It belongs to the Tyrannidae family, which are often called "tyrant flycatchers." These birds are known for catching insects while flying.
You can find this bird in several countries in South America. These include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its favorite place to live is in warm, wet lowland forests.
This flatbill is a common flycatcher in the northern parts of South America. It's a small bird, mostly olive-green. It has a bright reddish-brown, or rufous, tail. Its wings are dark, almost black, with reddish-brown edges. You can often find this bird alone in forests with open spaces under the trees. It lives mainly near the Orinoco and Amazon rivers.
What Does It Look Like?
The rufous-tailed flatbill has a very clear and unique look. It's an olive-green bird with a bright reddish-brown tail. Its wings are also reddish-brown. This makes it easy to tell apart from other birds.
One bird that looks a little similar is the dusky-tailed flatbill (Ramphotrigon fuscicauda). But the dusky-tailed flatbill has darker tail feathers and wings. It also has more streaks on its chest.
Where Does It Live?
This bird lives in humid, wet, evergreen forests in low-lying areas. It likes to search for food in the middle parts of the forest. It especially likes places where the plants on the forest floor are not too thick.
How Does It Sound?
The rufous-tailed flatbill is often found by its calls. Its main call is a low-pitched whistle. People have described this sound in different ways.
Some say it sounds like a soft, long "weeeaaaweee." Sometimes, it adds a short, low note after that. Others describe it as a low, rising and falling whistle, like "meeooo." It can also sound like "meeooo'OO" with a stronger ending.
At dawn, when the sun is rising, its song is a bit different. It can sound like a sad "toooo, reer" or "wheeee-oooh." The last two notes are similar to its daytime call. Another description is a low "mewing" whistle that ends with a higher "hiccup" sound.
Images for kids
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Map showing where the Rufous-tailed flatbill lives.
