How do you identify a Yellow-throated Spadebill?

The yellow-throated spadebill is 9.5 to 10.2 cm (3.7 to 4.0 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.

How big is a Yellow-throated Spadebill?

The Yellow-throated Spadebill is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.

Where can you see a Yellow-throated Spadebill?

The Yellow-throated Spadebill occurs in 4 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela.

What does a Yellow-throated Spadebill sound like?

You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Yellow-throated Spadebill on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.

What birds look similar to a Yellow-throated Spadebill?

The Yellow-throated Spadebill is most easily confused with the Russet-winged Spadebill, the Cinnamon-crested Spadebill and the White-crested Spadebill.

Is the Yellow-throated Spadebill endangered?

The Yellow-throated Spadebill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Yellow-throated Spadebill

Platyrinchus flavigularis

Tyrant Flycatchers and Allies · Passeriformes · Legendary

The Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis) is a legendary tyrant flycatcher found in 4 countries, weighing about 10 g. The yellow-throated spadebill is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.

Least ConcernLegendaryEats invertebratesforest10 g

Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis), photo 1 — Photo: Christoph Moning · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis), photo 2 — Photo: Christoph Moning · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis), photo 3 — Photo: Christoph Moning · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis), photo 4 — Photo: Christoph Moning · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis), photo 5 — Photo: Christoph Moning · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis), photo 6 — Photo: Christoph Moning · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis), photo 7 — Photo: Christoph Moning · http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Yellow-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus flavigularis), photo 8 — Photo: (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY

About the Yellow-throated Spadebill

The yellow-throated spadebill is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

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

How to identify it

The yellow-throated spadebill is 9.5 to 10.2 cm (3.7 to 4.0 in) long. It has a large head and a stubby tail. The sexes and subspecies have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly bright rufous-brown head with a partially hidden white patch in the center of the crown and a yellowish spot on the lores. Their upperparts are olive and their wings and tail are dusky olive. Their throat is bright yellow and their underparts mostly pale yellow with an indistinct olivaceous band across the breast. Voice: The yellow-throated spadebill's song is "a rapid, rising trill ending with a sharp squeak: brrrreeEEEE'PEW!" and its call "a loud, descending squeak" pew!".

What the Yellow-throated Spadebill sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Ecuador Peru Colombia Venezuela

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in July. It is a resident species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify a Yellow-throated Spadebill?: The yellow-throated spadebill is 9.5 to 10.2 cm (3.7 to 4.0 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is a Yellow-throated Spadebill?: The Yellow-throated Spadebill is a tiny sized bird weighing about 10 g.
Where can you see a Yellow-throated Spadebill?: The Yellow-throated Spadebill occurs in 4 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela.
What does a Yellow-throated Spadebill sound like?: You can listen to 2 field recordings of the Yellow-throated Spadebill on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
What birds look similar to a Yellow-throated Spadebill?: The Yellow-throated Spadebill is most easily confused with the Russet-winged Spadebill, the Cinnamon-crested Spadebill and the White-crested Spadebill.
Is the Yellow-throated Spadebill endangered?: The Yellow-throated Spadebill is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Yellow-throated Spadebill for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

Play BeakBrain

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