D'Orbigny's Chat-Tyrant

Overview

D'Orbigny's chat-tyrant (Ochthoeca oenanthoides) is a species of tyrant flycatcher found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. It is a year-round resident of the Andean region and is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, although its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Length of 15 to 15.5 cm with a grayish or grayish-brown crown and upperparts.
• A wide whitish supercilium that extends well past the eye, contrasting with a blackish mask.
• Dusky cinnamon breast, deep cinnamon lower belly, and white or grayish vent.
• Song described as a weak, squeaky chatter often in duets, or a fairly musical 'reeka-teekera' phrase.

Habitat

This bird inhabits dry montane forests and woodlands on the western slopes of the Andes, particularly in areas with Polylepis trees, rocky slopes with scattered shrubs, and ravines. Its elevation range mostly lies between 3,400 m and 4,600 m in Peru, though it occurs as low as 2,000 m in Argentina.

Diet

D'Orbigny's chat-tyrant feeds on insects, foraging singly or in pairs. It perches upright in the open on branches, fenceposts, or bushes and takes prey with a sally to the ground, often returning to the same perch after a capture.

Did you know?

The nest of this species is an open cup typically built within a cavity in the face of a cliff.