Proposal (988) to South American Classification Committee

Establish English name for Tolmomyias viridiceps

With the passage of SACC proposal 961, we now have to choose an English name for newly recognized Tolmomyias viridiceps.

Ridgely & Greenfield (2001; Birds of Ecuador) treated viridiceps as a separate species an called it “Olive-faced Flatbill”. This was followed by Hilty (2003), del Hoyo & Collar (2016), and subsequent IOC lists. EBird split viridiceps without waiting for SACC and also called it Olive-faced Flatbill.

With a track record of use for 20+ years, I see no reason not to endorse “Olive-faced Flatbill”, so I recommend a YES on this unless you have a name so captivating that it stands a chance of sweeping aside that track record.

Van Remsen, December 2023

Comments from Donsker (voting for Areta): “YES. I would strongly support Olive-faced Flatbill as the English name for Tolmomyias viridiceps.”

Comments from Josh Beck (voting for Bonaccorso): “Easy YES vote - there is a long precedent, and the name is widely used and known.”

Comments from Dan Lane: “YES to ‘Olive-faced Flatbill’ for T. viridiceps.”

Comments from Stiles: “Olive-faced is fine for me, so YES.”

Comments from Zimmer: “YES” for using “Olive-faced Flatbill” as the English name for T. viridiceps, as first suggested by Ridgely & Greenfield (2001), and now, with a track record of more than 20 years of use in many quarters. Good, descriptive names are a challenge with this phenotypically conservative genus, but in this case, “Olive-faced” does draw attention to the most obvious plumage difference between viridiceps and the rest of the flaviventris-group.”

Comments from Rasmussen: “YES! For the reasons given by everyone else.”

Comments from Andrew Spencer (voting for Claramunt): “YES to Olive-faced Flatbill for T. viridiceps. It is the name I learned the species as ever since my first time in South America, and I honestly have a hard time thinking of it under any other name."