Costa Rica opened up my eyes. Though my intention was to photograph only Snowcap, all of its vibrant hues reminded me that there was much more going on here than just hummingbirds – this being one such color! The Common Tody Flycatcher is an incredible bird that I found anything but common. Standing roughly the size of your thumb, one thing you immediately notice about this species is how they perform flycatching within bushes. Many flycatchers capture their prey with swift flying movements from branches or flying branches, leaping upward and grabbing it out of the air. But Tody does the same within shrubbery. You might see its bright yellow dash dart in one direction and then back again before disappearing again into its foliage home. It was quite the sight, particularly with its distinctive bill that reminded me more of that of a platypus than of any typical flycatcher bill. Looking into its eyes gave this Tody quite an impressive gesture when looking back at me! My Z 9 needed all its horsepower and speed to capture this still of this greased ball of lightning. It truly fascinated me and it only appeared twice in Costa Rica – making today special indeed!
