Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant

Overview

The ash-breasted tit-tyrant, Anairetes alpinus, is a vulnerable species of tyrant flycatcher found in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia. It belongs to the subfamily Elaeniinae and is known for its active foraging behaviour and crest, which are reminiscent of true tits. The species has a highly disjunct distribution and a decreasing population, making it very local and uncommon.

Identification

• Small bird, 13 to 13.5 cm long, with a blackish crest formed by elongated feathers on the sides of a white crown.
• Upperparts are soft gray with faint blackish streaks; wings are blackish with two white bars from the wing coverts.
• Breast and flanks are soft gray, transitioning to a whitish to faintly yellow belly.
• Song is described as a rising burry note followed by short, descending notes: 'breeee djr-djr-djr'.

Habitat

It inhabits groves and thickets dominated by Polylepis and Gynoxys trees and shrubs on steep, rocky, grassy slopes in the Andes of Peru and Bolivia. The species is found at high elevations, ranging from 3,700 to 4,600 m. It is a year-round resident in these fragmented habitats.

Diet

The diet is known to be mostly insects, though not detailed. It forages singly, in pairs, in small family groups, or sometimes in mixed-species flocks. Foraging typically occurs among the outer branches of Polylepis and Gynoxys, involving gleaning while perched and short sallies to briefly hover.

Did you know?

The genus Anairetes was formerly named Spizitornis, and the ash-breasted tit-tyrant was originally described in the monotypic genus Yanacea before being merged into Anairetes. Its breeding season is suggested to be towards the end of the dry season, with active nests found in November and dependent young in December.