Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant

Overview

The pied-crested tit-tyrant (Anairetes reguloides) is a species of bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. It is found in the coastal and highland regions of Peru and northern Chile and is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Size: 11 to 12 cm long; females average 6.7 g.
• Plumage: Adult males possess a dramatic split black crest, black upperparts with thin white streaks, and white wing bars; females have shorter crests, buffy grey and white markings, and a white eye-crescent.
• Bill and Legs: Bill is yellow to bright red-orange with a dark tip; legs and feet are black; irises are dark brown.
• Song: Dawn song is described as a squeaky series of notes and rising churrs, such as "teek'teek'trk-trrrk".

Habitat

The species inhabits the generally arid coastal region of Peru and Chile, ranging from sea level up to 4,000 m elevation. It is found in scrublands, thickets along watercourses, fog oasis lomas, agricultural hedgerows, and Polylepis woodlands above the treeline.

Diet

The diet consists mostly of arthropods, which are obtained by active foraging. The bird usually forages singly or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks, and gleans prey from leaves and twigs or hovers in short upward flights, rarely capturing insects in mid-air.

Did you know?

Despite belonging to the tyrant flycatcher family, members of its genus are known as 'tit-tyrants' because their active foraging behaviour and crests are reminiscent of the true tits in the family Paridae.