Stub-tailed Spadebill
Stub-tailed SpadebillStub-tailed Spadebill

Stub-tailed Spadebill

Platyrinchus cancrominus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
215 Verified records at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
September Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The stub-tailed spadebill (Platyrinchus cancrominus) is a passerine bird in the Tyrannidae family. It is commonly found in tropical dry rainforests or tropical moist lowlands throughout Central America. First scientifically described in 1860, it was originally thought to be the same as Platyrinchus mystaceus but was later reclassified as a sympatric species. The stub-tailed spadebill may grow up to 9.5 cm (3.74 in) long and may weigh up to 12 g (0.42 oz). It has a white throat, yellow breast, and brown mantle and wings. The stub-tailed spadebill is most easily recognizable due to its stubby tail, broad bill, and its distinctive bird song. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Stub-tailed Spadebill sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 215 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Great Kiskadee
LC

Great Kiskadee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pitangus sulphuratus

60–70% · Likely
Social Flycatcher
LC

Social Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiozetetes similis

60–70% · Likely
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
LC

Dusky-capped Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiarchus tuberculifer

30–40% · Possible
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
LC

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Empidonax flaviventris

30–40% · Possible
Northern Bentbill
LC

Northern Bentbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Oncostoma cinereigulare

30–40% · Possible
Bright-rumped Attila
LC Endemic

Bright-rumped Attila

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Attila spadiceus

30–40% · Possible
Yellow-olive Flycatcher
LC

Yellow-olive Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tolmomyias sulphurescens

20–30% · Possible
Greenish Elaenia
LC

Greenish Elaenia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Myiopagis viridicata

20–30% · Possible
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
LC

Yellow-bellied Elaenia

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Elaenia flavogaster

20–30% · Possible
Piratic Flycatcher
LC

Piratic Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Legatus leucophaius

10–20% · With luck
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
LC

Ochre-bellied Flycatcher

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mionectes oleagineus

10–20% · With luck
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

10–20% · With luck

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
20–30
Feb
20–30
Mar
20–30
Apr
5–10
May
20–30
Jun
20–30
Jul
10–20
Aug
40–50
Sep
20–30
Oct
10–20
Nov
20–30
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
10–20%
2 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
10–20%
3 Biotopo Cerro Cahuí 🇬🇹 Guatemala
5–10%
4 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
5 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
6 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
5–10%
7 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
5–10%
8 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
9 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
10 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
11 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
12 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
13 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
14 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
15 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
16 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
17 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Stub-tailed Spadebill in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

About 19% of wildlife watchers report a Stub-tailed Spadebill sighting in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, based on 215 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Stub-tailed Spadebill in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary?

September has the highest sighting rate for Stub-tailed Spadebill in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in our monthly data.

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