Yungas Tody-Tyrant

Overview

The Yungas tody-tyrant (Hemitriccus spodiops) is a small bird in the tyrant flycatcher family found in Bolivia and Peru. It is a year-round resident classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• About 11 cm long, weighing 6.9 to 7.5 g, with a dark olive-green crown and short bushy crest.
• Face is olive-green with grayish buff lores; wings and tail are dark olive green with faint yellowish wing bars.
• Underparts are mostly grayish olive with faint whitish streaks, except for a clear yellowish white belly.
• Song is a harsh, rapid, descending trill; calls are quiet 'tuk' or 'bink' notes.

Habitat

The species inhabits the Yungas biome in western and central Bolivia, extending slightly into extreme southeastern Peru. It occurs at the edges of humid montane forest, in mature secondary growth along roads, in landslide openings, and in stands of bamboo, typically at elevations between 800 and 1,600 m.

Diet

This bird feeds on insects, typically foraging singly and not joining mixed-species feeding flocks. It forages in thick undergrowth 1 to 3 m above the ground, using short upward sallies from a perch to glean prey from the underside of vegetation.

Did you know?

Nothing is currently known about the breeding biology of the Yungas tody-tyrant.