Stub-tailed Spadebill
Platyrinchus cancrominus
The Stub-tailed Spadebill (Platyrinchus cancrominus) is a rare tyrant flycatcher found in 8 countries, weighing about 9 g. The stub-tailed spadebill is a passerine bird in the Tyrannidae family.
About the Stub-tailed Spadebill
The stub-tailed spadebill is a passerine bird in the Tyrannidae family. It is commonly found in tropical dry rainforests or tropical moist lowlands throughout Central America. First scientifically described in 1860, it was originally thought to be the same as Platyrinchus mystaceus but was later reclassified as a sympatric species. The stub-tailed spadebill may grow up to 9.5 cm (3.74 in) long and may weigh up to 12 g (0.42 oz). It has a white throat, yellow breast, and brown mantle and wings. The stub-tailed spadebill is most easily recognizable due to its stubby tail, broad bill, and its distinctive bird song. Some morphological differences like its greatly reduced crown differentiate it…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Stub-tailed Spadebill?
- The stub-tailed spadebill can grow up to 9.5 cm (3.74 in) long and weigh up to 12 g (0.42 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Stub-tailed Spadebill?
- The Stub-tailed Spadebill is a tiny sized bird weighing about 9 g.
- Where can you see a Stub-tailed Spadebill?
- The Stub-tailed Spadebill occurs in 8 countries, including Belize, Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
- What birds look similar to a Stub-tailed Spadebill?
- The Stub-tailed Spadebill is most easily confused with the Golden-crowned Spadebill, the White-throated Spadebill and the White-crested Spadebill.
- Is the Stub-tailed Spadebill endangered?
- The Stub-tailed Spadebill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Stub-tailed Spadebill for real
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