Pied Water Tyrant

Overview

The pied water tyrant (Fluvicola pica) is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It is found across parts of Central and South America, including Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad, and Venezuela.

Identification

• 12.5 to 13.5 cm long with a weight of 11 to 16 g.
• Adult males feature mostly white plumage with a black hindcrown, mottled black and white back, and black wings with white tips on the tertials; females show brownish tones mixed with the black on the hindcrown, nape, and back.
• Both sexes possess prominent rictal bristles, a dark iris, a sharply hooked black bill, and black legs and feet.
• Song is described as a slightly buzzy 'choo-wer' repeated over and over, while calls include a short, nasal 'dreéeap!' and a soft 'pic' like a bubble bursting.

Habitat

Primarily inhabits freshwater marshes and the margins of lakes and ponds, though it also occurs in nearby grasslands and gardens. The species generally resides at elevations below 450 m, but can reach 1,000 m in Colombia.

Diet

Feeds on insects, foraging singly or in somewhat separated pairs. It gleans prey from floating and emergent vegetation, takes it from the water surface or open ground, and sometimes jumps from the ground to snatch prey in mid-air.

Did you know?

During its 'dreéeap!' call, which is usually made at dawn or dusk, the bird sometimes jumps straight up as high as 1 m (3 ft).