Short-tailed Pygmy-tyrant

Short-tailed Pygmy-tyrant

Taxobox
name = Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Tyrannidae
genus = "Myiornis"
species = "M. ecaudatus"
binomial = "Myiornis ecaudatus"
binomial_authority = (D'Orbigny and Lafresnaye, 1837)

The Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant, "Myiornis ecaudatus", is not only the smallest member of the tyrant-flycatcher family, but is also the smallest passerine on earth. The Pygmy Tyrant is widespread throughout most of the Amazon in northern and central South America.

This bird is a resident of tall humid forests, but is occasionally found in more open woodland, specifically around treefalls and tall trees in clearings. It is fairly common through most of its range, but is easily overlooked - in part due to its insect or frog-like voice.

The Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant is truly a pygmy of a bird, with only a handful of the most hummingbirds measuring smaller. The average length is 6.5 cm (2.6" inches) and the weight averages at 4.2 g. While the bill (though slender) is disportionately large for the size of the bird, the tail is practically non-existent. The head is gray with blackish lores and stand out white "spectacles". The back is bright olive-green, and the bar-less wings and tail are both black. The underside is yellow-tinged white, with light olive smudges on the chest and flanks, and the inner flight feathers are edged with yellow. The sexes are similar. Although the plumage is similar to some other tyrant flycatchers, especially the Slate-headed Tody-flycatcher, in the field, the bird is more often mistaken for a large beetle or insect, especially while in flight.

The nest, a moss and fiber ball with a side entrance, is large for the size of the bird. It may be found from 1-8 meter (3.3-26.5 feet) up in the tree, and never near the canopy. 2 eggs, white overlaid with brownish or cinnamon spots, are laid.

The Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant prefers to take prey by hover-gleaning from beneath leaves at mid-level in the forest. The flight movements have a mechanical-feel that enhances the insect comparison. The abrupt movements of these dwarves make them hard to follow even if seen. These birds also occasionally flycatch after remaining very quiet.

The song is a high pitches series of to 15 "c'r'eek" notes, at first hesitant, then accerlating and descending slight. There is also a "cr'e'e'e', k'e'e'e'e" song that is repeated over and over. Chirp-like squeaks similar to that of a well-rosined bird squeaker and a soft, purring series of trilled notes, lower in pitch than other calls. In general, the vocalizations of the Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant are all unlikely to be recognized as a bird vocalization, but are rather more like the sounds made by crickets or small frogs.

References

Hilty, Birds of Venezuela, Second Edition, ISBN 0-691-09250-8

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tyrannidae


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification …   Wikipedia

  • short-tailed pygmy-tyrant — trumpauodegis miornis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Myiornis ecaudatus angl. short tailed pygmy tyrant vok. Stummelschwanz Zwergtyrann, m rus. короткохвостая аруна, f pranc. microtyran à queue courte, m ryšiai:… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • Pygmy tyrant — Eared Pygmy Tyrant Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia …   Wikipedia

  • Black-capped Pygmy-tyrant — Conservation status Least Concern …   Wikipedia

  • Tyrant flycatcher — Taxobox name = Tyrant flycatchers image width = 240px image caption = Scissor tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Passeriformes subordo = Tyranni familia = Tyrannidae familia authority …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Peru — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Peru. The avifauna of Peru includes a total of 1879 species, of which 139 are endemic, 3 have been introduced by humans, and 72 are rare or accidental. 91 species are globally threatened.This list s… …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Colombia — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Colombia. The avifauna of Colombia includes a total of 1895 species, of which 74 are endemic, 2 have been introduced by humans, and 87 are rare or accidental. 1 species listed is extirpated in… …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Ecuador — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Ecuador. The avifauna of Ecuador includes a total of 1663 species, of which 16 are endemic, 2 have been introduced by humans, and 19 are rare or accidental. 77 species are globally threatened.This… …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Bolivia — This is a list of the bird species recorded in Bolivia. The avifauna of Bolivia includes a total of 1448 species, of which 25 are endemic, 2 have been introduced by humans, and 12 are rare or accidental. 31 species are globally threatened.This… …   Wikipedia

  • List of birds of Brazil — Brazil has one of the richest bird diversities in the world, with more than 1700 species of birds, about 57% of the bird species recorded for all of South America. These numbers are still increasing, almost every year, due to new occurrences or… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”