Glossy-backed Becard illustration
Birdsong field guide

Glossy-backed Becard

Pachyramphus surinamus

A small, canopy-dwelling suboscine passerine of the Guiana Shield, notable for the striking sexual dimorphism between the glossy male and rufous-capped female.

What it sounds like

A thin, high-pitched series of descending whistles, typically rendered as 'tsee-tsee-tsee-tseeeu'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Rec. Peter Boesman · SurinameCC BY-NC-NDXeno-canto

Field notes

  • The male possesses a distinctive white patch on the scapulars that is often concealed except during flight or social displays.
  • Females are strikingly different from males, featuring a bright rufous crown, gray face, and pale underparts.
  • It is one of the smaller members of its genus, typically reaching a length of only 13 to 13.5 centimeters.
  • This species is predominantly found in the high canopy, often making it difficult to observe from the forest floor.
  • It frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks, moving alongside other insectivorous birds through the upper layers of the forest.
Habitat
Canopy and edges of humid lowland evergreen forests and tall secondary growth.
Range
Northeastern South America, including the Guianas, eastern Venezuela, and the northern Amazon basin in Brazil.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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