Maracaibo Tody-Flycatcher

Fairly common within its arid coastal range and occurs in several protected areas — one of the more accessible Venezuelan endemics, found in scrub rather than remote cloud forest. Population believed declining from habitat loss around Lake Maracaibo.

Tiny tody-flycatcher (9–10 cm). Black forecrown grading to a gray hindcrown and nape, black lores and area around the eye, olive-green upperparts, yellow underparts. Distinguished from Common Tody-Flycatcher by paler, more faded/washed-out coloration overall and a whitish supraloral mark above the lores. Sexes alike.

Semi-arid to arid coastal scrub and dry woodland with Acacia, Cercidium, cardón cactus and Opuntia; sea level to ~200 m.

Resident, year-round. Forages singly or in pairs for arthropods low in dense vegetation, taking prey with short upward and outward sallies to foliage. Builds the classic pendulous closed bag-nest with a side entrance, usually ≤3.5 m up; breeds with peaks Jan–Mar and May–Jun.

A series of sharp, ticking 'seek!' notes (the typical staccato Todirostrum delivery). Search Xeno-canto / Macaulay Library for 'Todirostrum viridanum' / 'Maracaibo Tody-Flycatcher' — note recordings are fewer than for Common Tody-Flycatcher, so the voice is a useful separator from its widespread congener.

An easy, high-value endemic to bank early in a tour — bird the Acacia/cardón scrub of Paraguaná or the Coro area at dawn, listen for the sharp 'seek' notes, and stress to clients the paler plumage and whitish supraloral that separate it from the nearby Common Tody-Flycatcher. Look for the hanging bag-nest as a reliable locator.