White-browed Ground Tyrant

Overview

The Muscisaxicola albilora is a species of tyrant flycatcher found across the Andes of South America. It is a complete migrant that breeds in the southern Andes and moves north to winter in the northern Andes and northern Patagonia.

Identification

• Muscisaxicola albilora measures 15 to 17.5 cm in length and weighs approximately 25 to 29 g, with identical plumage in both sexes.
• Adults feature a tawny forecrown and rufous hindcrown, a long thin white supercilium, and brownish-gray upperparts.
• The underparts are pale gray on the throat, breast, and belly, contrasting with a black tail that has whitish edges on the outer webs of the outermost feathers.
• It possesses a long, dusky bill, a dark brown iris, and dusky legs and feet; juveniles differ by having a brown crown and light streaking on the underparts.

Habitat

Found along the Andes from northern Ecuador to Chile's Magallanes Region, this species inhabits open montane grasslands and shrublands, often in rocky areas near marshes and lakes. It ranges in elevation from near sea level in the far south up to 4,000 m further north, and also occupies páramo in Ecuador.

Diet

This bird feeds on insects and is almost wholly terrestrial, though it will perch on rocks. It forages by running and hopping along the ground, stopping to stand erect before grabbing prey or dropping on it from a rock, usually alone or in pairs during the breeding season but in flocks outside it.

Did you know?

The species is more vocal than other ground tyrants, using a high-pitched, slightly rising 'tset' or 'tseek' call, a 'clet ip' during courtship flight, and a high-pitched, abrupt 'tsip' as an alarm call.