Red-billed Tyrannulet

Overview

The Zimmerius cinereicapilla is a species of tyrant flycatcher found in the east slopes of the Andes in South America. Although currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN, its population is believed to be decreasing due to habitat loss, and it is considered rare or local in much of its range.

Identification

• Measures 11.5 to 12 cm in length with a weight between 10.7 and 13.8 g.
• Features a pale gray or dusky olive crown, olive green face, back, and rump, and a light olive gray breast suffused with pale yellow.
• Possesses a dark gray or blackish maxilla and a pale purplish gray or dull pink mandible, with dark purple gray legs.
• Song described as an accelerating and slightly descending series of clear notes, such as 'teeuw tew-tew-te-te-te-te-te-te-te' or 'tirtetetetete-whét-whét'.

Habitat

Found on the east slope of the Andes in north-central and southern Ecuador, central to southern Peru, and parts of Bolivia's La Paz Department. It inhabits the canopy and edges of tropical forest in the Andean foothills and lower humid subtropical montane forest at elevations between 550 and 1,350 m.

Diet

Feeds on insects and small fruits, particularly those of mistletoes. It forages singly or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks, and actively moves through the forest canopy to glean food while perched or briefly hovering.

Did you know?

The species was originally described as Phyllomyias cinereicapilla and spent much of the twentieth century in the genus Tyranniscus before being moved to its current genus Zimmerius in 1977.