Black-backed tody-flycatcher

Black-backed tody-flycatcher
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Tyrannidae
Genus:	Poecilotriccus
Species:	P. pulchellus
Binomial name
Poecilotriccus pulchellus (Sclater, PL, 1874)
Synonyms
Todirostrum pulchellum Sclater, 1874 Poecilotriccus pulchellum

The black-backed tody-flycatcher (Poecilotriccus pulchellus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, and one of twelve in the genus Poecilotriccus.

Description

The black-backed tody-flycatcher is compact and short tailed; yellow underbelly, black above, with a white throat and neck, and a small red shoulder patch. This bird usually forages in pairs for insects. They are of the genus of the Poecilotriccus which are small bodied, short tailed, tyrant flycatchers that have long flattened bills. It is a boldly marked species with a black head, yellow underbody, and white throat. For a male the back is black and the female has an olive colored back.

Similar species

Due to its distinct appearance the black-backed tody-flycatcher would be hard to confuse with many other species. However, it is most similar to the golden-winged tody flycatcher. Over time the black-backed tody-flycatcher adapted to its environment in order to survive which is why there are slight differences between the two. The golden-winged tody-flycatcher lives in Southern Columbia, South of Peru. Both sexes of this bird have olive backs and they also lack the white spot behind the eye. Thus it would be hard to confuse these birds if you look closer, however due to geographical location these birds would never come into contact.

Subspecies

Monotypic

Distribution and habitat

These birds occupy low shrubby areas at the edge of humid evergreen forests and in adjacent overgrown gardens. It is also found in secondary forests with tall bamboo along the foothills of the Andes in Southern Peru.

Food

The only source of food these birds eat are insects as these birds are insectivorous.

Sounds

The song of the black-backed tody-flycatcher is described as a "rapid series of descending, rich churrs". The song is often given as a duet accompanied by flashing both wings.

Population

The population is decreasing as it was last recorded in 2016. A generation of these birds last just over 3+1⁄2 years. There are conservation sites for these birds on land and water. The number of mature males is unknown at this time.

Effects of human activity

Due to habitat loss because of deforestation the population is said to be in decline. However, there is speculation that in more lowlands the population could be increasing in abundance because the habitat is not at the edge of a forest. Thus the effects of human activity are yet to be determined.