Bicolored Conebill Conirostrum bicolor Scientific name definitions

The Bicolored Conebill effectively occurs in two separate populations, one of which is found in mangroves, rather discontinuously, along the Atlantic and Caribbean coasts as far south as southern Brazil, whilst the other occurs on Amazonian river islands, principally in Brazil, but also penetrating parts of upper Amazonia. Both are confined to the true lowlands. Despite its vernacular name, the species is not obviously bicolored, being pale grayish blue above and grayish buff below, with reddish irides and dusky-pink legs. It is easily attracted by ‘pishing’, being inquisitive and almost tame. At least within Amazonia, this species might be confused with the congeneric but much rarer Pearly-breasted Conebill (Conirostrum margaritae) or a female of the obviously larger and stockier Hooded Tanager (Nemosia pileata).

11·4 cm; 10·5–11 g. Small dull, bluish-grey conebill with thin bill. Male nominate race has crown, nape and upperparts , including upperwing-coverts, dull pale bluish-grey, tail blue-grey, flight-feathers dusky, inner ones and tertials edged pale bluish-grey; lores and facial area pale grey, becoming dingy pale greyish-buff below, with throat and lower underparts palest; iris dull orange-red to dark red; bill bluish-grey; legs dull greyish-pink. Female is similar to male or slightly duller; underparts pale greyish-buff. Immature is dull olive above, including crown, nape, back and rump, and distinctly yellowish below, brighter on throat and breast, but amount of yellow variable; iris dark red, more or less as that of adult. Race minus differs from nominate in decidedly smaller size, rufescent tinge on underparts, especially undertail-coverts, and slight rufescent (not greyish) tinge on ear-coverts.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Found in two distinct habitats: first, on N coast, occurs locally in mangroves (red, black, white, etc.), and sometimes in adjacent low flooded forest (but always near mangroves and closely associated with them); second, along R Amazon and a few of its major tributaries, found in shrubby younger successional stages of vegetation on river islands and riverbanks. Sea-level to c. 100 m. In coastal mangroves from Colombia E to the Guianas generally not found together with resident “chestnut-headed” races of American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), one or the other species (but not both) occurring in mangrove sites, although exact nature of possible competitive interactions between these two species is not well understood; present species is, however, found together with migrant Yellow Warblers in mangroves.

Diet poorly known; small arthropods taken. Occurs in pairs and family parties; usually not with mixed-species flocks, although occasionally loosely associated with a few other species in mangroves. Keeps in middle to upper levels of foliage, occasionally down to eye level, as it peers and probes into tight clusters of small leaves. Busily gleans for small arthropods in foliage and twigs of shrubs and trees on river islands; on river islands may use damaged leaves of Cecropia. Searches leaf surfaces (possibly the upper surfaces more) in mangroves. Easily attracted to source of squeaking noises, and will often closely approach a human observer.

Infrequently heard song in coastal Venezuela a high-pitched, squeaky and somewhat buzzy “pfits, t’wit’wit’wit’chit” or similar; in coastal mangroves of Brazil varies from short 2-note or 3-note phrases to much longer, complex, squeaky and fussy songs, e.g. “tzúu’eet, ...” repeated over and over (first note strongly emphasized) or much more complex “tsit-péu, tsit’tsit’pee’pee, zuu, tsit’tsit...”, rather jerky and sputtering; in inland Brazil described as “tséédi, tséédi-didelide, tséédi, léédi’léé-zrrr”. At least in some areas reminiscent of songs of Coereba flaveola, and everywhere much shorter than and quite unlike longer and much faster songs of C. margaritae. Soft calls , during foraging, include high, sibilant “tsik”, also “pit-sik” and “few-it-sip”.

Season Feb–May in N Colombia (La Guajira). in N of range, nest a small, compact, deep cup of grass mixed with feathers, placed 0·3–4 m up in fork of mangrove branch. Clutch 2 eggs, pale buff with dark brown blotches, mainly at larger end. Nests in Trinidad often parasitized by Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). May breed in immature plumage. No further information available.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common locally in coastal N portion of range; uncommon and very local in Amazonia, and only recently (Mar 2014) discovered in NE Ecuador, along R Napo (2 Kirwan, G. M., D. Brinkhuizen, D. Calderón, B., Davis, J. Minns, and I. Roesler (2014). Neotropical notebook. Neotropical Birding 15:46–62. Close ). Occurs in a few protected coastal areas, including Salamanca National Park and probably also Corales del Rosario National Park (Colombia), Morrocoy National Park (Venezuela) and Wia-Wia and Galibi Nature Reserves (Suriname). Destruction of mangrove habitats in coastal portion of its range is the most important threat facing this species. It may not occur in any protected zones within its river-island distribution in Amazonia, although relatively little pressure from habitat destruction here. Extensive forest clearing, however, has occurred on larger islands in lower parts of Amazon.