Grey-capped Tyrannulet

Overview

The grey-capped tyrannulet (Phyllomyias griseocapilla) is a small bird in the tyrant flycatcher family, endemic to eastern Brazil. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although its population is believed to be decreasing due to habitat loss.

Identification

• Approximately 11 cm long with a slate-gray crown and nape, contrasted by a bright olive-green back and rump.
• Wings are dusky with bright yellow edges on the flight feathers and coverts, forming two distinct wing bars.
• Features a small, rounded blackish bill, gray legs, and a brown iris, with a faint dusky stripe through the eye surrounded by white lores.
• Song consists of a short series of 1-4 high, clear, whistled 'weew--' notes, accompanied by a high, rising 'weeeew' call.

Habitat

This species inhabits the interior and edges of humid primary and secondary forests within the tropical zone of eastern Brazil. Its range extends from south-central Bahia through Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo to northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, typically at elevations between 750 and 1,850 m, though it is occasionally found at sea level.

Diet

The grey-capped tyrannulet feeds on insects, small fruit, and berries, with a preference for mistletoe. It forages singly, in pairs, or occasionally in mixed-species flocks, primarily in the mid-level of the forest by gleaning from perches or briefly hovering.

Did you know?

During the breeding season, the species constructs a closed globe-shaped nest with a side entrance, built primarily from Spanish moss and placed in a tree fork approximately 6 m above the ground.