Golden-crowned Spadebill
Platyrinchus coronatus
The golden-crowned spadebill is the smallest member of its genus. It is about 8.5 to 9 cm (3.3 to 3.5 in) long and weighs 8 to 9 g (0.28 to 0.32 oz). It has a large head with a bold facial pattern and a stubby tail. The sexes have almost the same plumage. Males of the nominate subspecies have a black crown with a partially hidden orange-rufous patch in the center; females have a purer orange patch. Both sexes have pale buff-yellow as a patch above the lores, as an eye-ring, as a stripe behind the eye, and as a patch on the ear coverts. Voice: The golden-crowned spadebill's song has been described as "a very high-pitched, rapid, hissing trill that undulates slightly...and could easily be mistaken for an insect noise". A similar description is "a weak, insectlike, and high-pitched trill, se'e'e'e'e'e'e'r'r'r'r'e'e'ep...barely audible at any distance and easily overlooked".
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Stub-tailed Spadebill
Platyrinchus cancrominus
The stub-tailed spadebill can grow up to 9.5 cm (3.74 in) long and weigh up to 12 g (0.42 oz). It has brown feathering on its head extending down to the mantle as well as its wings. It has a pale-coloured mandible leading to its white throat. The abdomen usually has yellow plumage in males, but females may have brown and yellow plumage as well. The short brown tail of the species is a distinguishing feature that gives it its name. Stub-tailed spadebill have a broad and flat bill and pinkish feet. It also has a distinguishable face pattern with distinctive yellow postocular stripes.
ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Where you might meet both
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Play today's Daily BirdPhotos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Golden-crowned Spadebill and Stub-tailed Spadebill.