Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher Ptiliogonys caudatus Scientific name definitions

The Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher (Ptilogonys caudatus) is a blue-gray and yellow thrush-sized bird of high-elevations forests in Costa Rica and Panama. Occurring mostly above 6,000 feet, this species forages in small flocks, often landing on high perches or berry-producing trees. Long-tailed Silky-flycatchers are omnivorous, commonly eating insects and small fruits. Although its range is limited to Central American highlands, this species is fairly common in the mountains where it lives.

Male 23·7–24·4 cm, female 20–21 cm; 37 g. Slender, with prominent crest and long tail, central pair of rectrices extending beyond the rest. Male has forehead and crown grey, rest of head, crest and neck yellowish olive-green, throat tinged with grey; back, rump, uppertail-coverts and upperwing-coverts bluish-grey; flight-feathers and tail black, inner webs of tail feathers (except two central pairs) with large white patch on middle portion; breast and upper belly slightly paler grey than back, sides, flanks and lower belly yellowish olive-green, undertail-coverts bright yellow; iris dark, narrow yellow eyering; bill and legs black. Female is duller than male, with head, neck and crest paler yellowish olive-green, back, rump, uppertail-coverts, wing-coverts, breast and upper belly olivaceous grey (­instead of bluish-grey), duller greenish-yellow on flanks, lower belly yellowish-white, undertail-coverts dullish yellow, shorter and duller tail. Juvenile is light greyish-brown with brownish bill and feet, whitish eyering; uppertail-coverts darker brown, underparts paler, undertail-coverts pale yellow with greyish bases.

C & S Costa Rica (Cordillera Central, Cordillera de Talamanca) and W Panama.

Open montane habitats, such as secondary forest and pasture with scattered trees bordered by wooded ravines; 1800–3000 m.

Resident. During non-breeding season, ranges through forests and pastures in widely straggling flocks; occasionally wanders to lower elevations.

Insects and small fruits ; fruits include berries of fiddlewood (Citharexylum), the fuchsia Fuchsia arborescens, and the mistletoe Eurya theoides. Both insects and berries fed also to nestlings. Plucks berries while perched , and swallows them whole. Catches insects in air, often in long sallies from a high perch; when collecting food for nestlings, may twist and turn in air, capturing numerous insects before returning to nest.

Call a sharp, dry “che chip, che chip”, likened to sound of loose pebbles in a box when uttered by a flock; in flight, a rattling “che-e-e-e-e” or bell-like tinkling note. When threatened at nest, sometimes imitates calls of other bird species, e.g. American Mountain Thrush (Turdus plebejus). Sings with low lisping notes punctuated by louder “che chip” notes.

Apr–Jun. Monogamous; solitary or loosely colonial, may nest in groups of 2–5 pairs, defends small area around nest. Male begins construction of nest , both sexes contribute later, male feeds mate during building; nest a broad bulky open cup constructed primarily of pale grey beard-lichen (Usnea), bound with caterpillar silk or cobwebs, unlined interior smooth and hard (as though coated with plaster), outer diameter 11·4–12·7 cm, height 5–6·4 cm, inner cup 5·7–6·4 cm across and 4·1 cm deep; placed 2–18 m (average 7 m) up in fork or on stout horizontal branch of tree, sometimes in exposed location. Clutch 2 eggs; incubation by female, fed by male on or near nest, period 16–17 days; nestlings brooded by female, fed by both sexes with insects, also with increasing proportion of fruit as they grow older; chicks leave nest 24–25 days after hatching, by sidling out on branch, but may return to it for a day or two. Fledging success at 15 nests 27%; predators include Brown Jay (Cyanocorax morio).

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Costa Rica and Panama Highlands EBA. Common in appropriate habitats in mountain ranges of Volcánica Central and Talamanca. Not at any risk in most of range, but cause for long-term concern because of restricted distribution and small global population. Highland forests in Costa Rica and Panama have suffered widespread destruction as a result of burning, logging and agricultural expansion.