Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher

Overview

Lulu's tody-flycatcher, also known as Johnson's tody-flycatcher, is a small bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. It is endemic to northern Peru and currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Approximately 9.5 cm in length, with mostly pale rufous or cinnamon head and throat and a gray band across the nape.
• Upperparts are yellowish olive green; wings are black with yellowish olive green edges and two thin wing bars.
• Underparts are yellowish olive green on the breast, with orange yellow or yellow ochre belly and vent.
• Song is a descending, whinnying chatter described as "djee-djee'trrrrr", accompanied by a rising, staccato rattle and a quiet, froglike "prrp".

Habitat

Found exclusively in northern Peru, south of the Marañón River in the Amazonas and western San Martín departments. It primarily inhabits the understory of humid montane forest between 1,850 and 2,900 m elevation, with a strong preference for bamboo thickets, though it also occupies secondary forest and forest edges.

Diet

This species feeds on insects, though specific dietary details are limited. It forages mostly in pairs between 4 and 10 m above the ground, using short upward sallies from perches to grab prey from leaves, small branches, and bamboo stalks, as well as gleaning while perched.

Did you know?

The bird was initially named "Lulu's Tody-Tyrant" to honour Lulu May Von Hagen's support of avian genetics research, but the name was soon changed to "Johnson's Tody-Tyrant" following the death of co-author Ned Johnson.