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The long-tailed silky-flycatcher, Ptiliogonys caudatus, is a passerine bird of notable elegance. This species, akin in size to a thrush and weighing approximately 37 grams, is adorned with soft, silky plumage reminiscent of the waxwing family to which it is related.
The male of the species measures 24 centimetres in length and is distinguished by a pale grey forehead and a crested head. The neck, throat, and lower belly exhibit a vibrant yellow, while the back, lower breast, and upper belly are cloaked in blue-grey. The flight feathers and elongated, pointed tail are a stark black, with the outer tail feathers punctuated by white spots. The female, slightly smaller at 21 centimetres, presents a more subdued palette with a darker grey forehead, olive body, and a shorter, less vivid tail. Immature birds echo the adult's appearance but with shorter central tail feathers and less distinct white tail markings.
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This bird graces the mountain forests of its range, favouring altitudes from 1,850 meters up to the timberline.
The long-tailed silky-flycatcher is found exclusively in the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.
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Outside the breeding season, these birds are sociable, often seen foraging in small flocks. They exhibit a flycatching technique to capture insects and are also known to consume small fruits, with a particular fondness for mistletoe. They frequently perch in a conspicuous manner atop high, exposed twigs.
The species communicates with a distinctive call, a repeated "chee-chip" that punctuates the mountain air.
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The breeding pair demonstrates a penchant for neatness, constructing a cup-shaped nest adorned with lichen, placed 2 to 18 meters above the ground in a tree. At times, they may nest in loose colonies. Both parents share the duty of incubating the two grey eggs, which are beautifully blotched with brown and lilac. Post-hatching, the fledglings take their first flight between 18 to 25 days, during which time they are nurtured by both parents.
The long-tailed silky-flycatcher's diet consists of insects, which it catches in flight, and small fruits, with a preference for mistletoe berries.
The IUCN Red List classifies the long-tailed silky-flycatcher as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.
