Rufous-headed Pygmy Tyrant

Overview

The rufous-headed pygmy tyrant is a small species of tyrant flycatcher found across several South American countries. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Approximately 11 cm (4.3 in) in length, weighing between 7 and 9 g.
• Adults feature a bright orange-rufous head and throat with dark olive upperparts and a dull chestnut tail.
• Wings appear fully chestnut due to wide dull chestnut edges on dark dusky feathers, with a cream-yellow belly and grayish-olive flanks.
• Song consists of a protracted, high-pitched trill that first descends then ascends, often described as 'tsi-i-i-i-i-i-e-e-e-u-e-e-e-i-i-i-i?', accompanied by a sharp, rattled call.

Habitat

Found in humid montane forests and cloudforests across Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela, typically at elevations between 2,000 and 3,350 m. The species favours vine thickets and forest borders, remaining a year-round resident in its disjunct range.

Diet

This bird feeds primarily on insects and other arthropods. It forages alone or in small groups near the ground within dense undergrowth, making short flights between perches and snapping at prey with its bill.

Did you know?

Despite having a large geographic range, the species is considered rare in Bolivia and is thought to be probably locally extinct in the southwest of Ecuador due to intense deforestation.