Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Overview

The scale-crested pygmy tyrant (Lophotriccus pileatus) is a small bird in the family Tyrannidae, native to the American Cordillera. It is characterised by its long crown feathers that form a crest and is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Measures 8 to 10 cm in length and weighs approximately 7 to 8 g.
• Possesses long crown feathers forming a eponymous crest that is sometimes erected and fanned.
• The nominate subspecies features a black crest with rufous feather edges, whitish lores on a brownish face, and an olive back.
• Underparts are light yellow with pale olive washes on the flanks, while the throat and upper breast are white with blurry dusky to olive streaks.
• Has a yellow iris, a grey bill, and pinkish legs and feet.
• Emits a very loud trill transcribed as "tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr" or "dzzeeer-dzeer-dzeer".

Habitat

This species inhabits humid to wet forest, mature secondary forest, forest edges, and gaps created by fallen trees. Its distribution is disjunct across parts of Central and South America, ranging from Costa Rica through Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and into Bolivia.

Diet

The scale-crested pygmy tyrant feeds primarily on arthropods. It forages singly or occasionally in pairs, mostly at mid-level to subcanopy heights, taking prey by using short upward sallies from perches to grab items from leaves or by gleaning while briefly hovering.

Did you know?

Its nest is a domed bag with a side entrance suspended under an "awning" and is constructed from plant fibres that often dangle from the bottom. Typically hanging from a twig between 3 and 5 m above the ground, the female is thought to incubate the clutch of two eggs alone.