Golden-crowned Spadebill

About the Golden-crowned Spadebill

The golden-crowned spadebill (Platyrinchus coronatus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found Central America from Honduras to Panama and in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The golden-crowned spadebill has three subspecies, the nominate P. c. coronatus (Sclater, PL, 1858), P. c. superciliaris (Lawrence, 1863), and P. c. gumia (Bangs and Penard, 1918). A study published in 2012 found deep genetic differences between the subspecies on either side of the Andes, evidence that some of them may warrant treatment as full species.

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... Wikipedia →