Zimmer's Tody-Tyrant

Overview

Zimmer's tody-tyrant (Hemitriccus minimus) is a small bird in the family Tyrannidae, native to South America. It is found in Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru, where it is classified as a species of Least Concern despite threats from deforestation.

Identification

• Approximately 10 cm long and weighing 6–8 g, with a dark brown-olive crown streaked with dusky markings.
• Wings are dusky with yellow-edged flight feathers and two distinct yellowish wing bars; the belly centre is pale yellow.
• Features a black bill with a lighter base, gray to pinkish-gray legs, and a nearly white to pale straw iris.
• The song is a sharp, high 'wtttti' trill that sounds ventriloquial, making the bird difficult to locate.

Habitat

The species inhabits stunted forest on sandy, nutrient-poor soil in blackwater areas and, to a lesser extent, terra firme forest along ridgetops. It is found in the southern Amazon Basin with a disjunct distribution across Brazil, northeastern Peru, and eastern Ecuador, reaching elevations of up to 450 m.

Diet

This bird feeds on insects, typically foraging in pairs between 9 and 12 m above the ground in forest crowns and vine tangles. It captures prey by making short upward sallies from perches to grab insects from the undersides of leaves.

Did you know?

Zimmer's tody-tyrant is monotypic, and its scientific name takes precedence over Hemitriccus aenigma due to the principle of priority following a complex taxonomic history that began in 1925.