Brownish Twistwing

Overview

The brownish twistwing (Cnipodectes subbrunneus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found across parts of South and Central America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.

Identification

• Body length ranges from 14 to 18 cm, with males generally larger than females.
• Plumage is mostly dull brown, with a slightly greyish crown and buff lores; outer primaries feature stiff, twisted shafts.
• Possesses a wide bill with a black maxilla and an orange-yellow mandible, along with black legs and feet.
• Males sing a sharp 'keeéuw-keeéuw' often preceded by a bill snap, while both sexes call out a nasal 'kuuuuwít!'.

Habitat

This species inhabits humid lowland evergreen forest, favouring dense vegetation and vine tangles in the understory, and also occurs in drier deciduous forest in western regions. Its range extends from Panama through the Pacific slope of Colombia and Ecuador to the western Amazon Basin in Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil, typically reaching elevations of up to 1,200 m.

Diet

The brownish twistwing feeds primarily on insects, though specific dietary details are lacking. It typically forages singly and is often sedentary, frequently lifting one wing slowly behind its back while perched.

Did you know?

The species receives its English name from the stiff, twisted shafts of its outer primary feathers, a physical trait not found in all members of its family. Its nest is a closed cylinder made of plant fibres, hanging from a branch or aerial root, and can be as long as one metre.