Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama.
South-eastern Mexico (from southern Veracruz, Tabasco, Chiapas and Yucatán Peninsula) south to Nicaragua and western Costa Rica; recently found also in north-western Panama (Bocas del Toro Archipelago).
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 50,000 - 499,999 (2010).
Stub-tailed Spadebill (Platyrinchus cancrominus) [XC444600]
by Manuel Grosselet from Chemuyil predio el venado Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico (call)
Stub-tailed Spadebill (Platyrinchus cancrominus) [XC664488]
by Scott Olmstead from Chan Chich Lodge, Belize (call)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
Relationships within genus unclear, pending completion of major genetic study. Has sometimes been considered conspecific with Eastern White-throated Spadebill (Platyrinchus mystaceus), but the two behave as separate species in Costa Rica. Birds from Yucatán Peninsula sometimes separated as subspecies timothei and those from El Salvador south to north-western Costa Rica as subspecies dilutus, but poorly differentiated from other populations. Additional work required in order to assess taxonomic status of these forms.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet