Stub-tailed Spadebill

Platyrinchus cancrominus

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesForestCup nestTiny · 9 g

ID tip

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.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Stub-tailed Spadebill

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 10 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is December, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Stub-tailed Spadebill

Regular range

The map shades 8 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

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.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Stub-tailed Spadebill vs White-throated Spadebill · Golden-crowned Spadebill vs Stub-tailed Spadebill

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