Tyranniscus cinereiceps
The Ashy-headed Tyrannulet (Tyranniscus cinereiceps) is a diminutive and often inconspicuous Neotropical songbird, measuring merely 10-11 cm (4 inches) in length and weighing a scant 7-9 grams. Its most distinctive field mark is its ashy-gray head, which contrasts subtly with an olive-green back and yellowish underparts, brightest on the belly and duller on the chest. The dusky wings are adorned with two clear, yellowish wing-bars, and it possesses a small, thin, blackish bill. Taxonomically,...
Resident in humid montane cloud forests, forest edges, and adjacent secondary growth, typically found at elevations between 1,200 and 3,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small arthropods (insects and spiders), with occasional consumption of small berries or fruits.
This diurnal species is an active, incessant forager, typically observed moving through the mid-story to canopy layers of its montane forest habitat. Its primary foraging strategy involves sally-gleaning, where it perches watchfully on an exposed branch, then darts out to snatch insects from foli...
The Ashy-headed Tyrannulet is a resident species found throughout the Andes of South America, exhibiting a largely continuous distribution with no significant migratory movements. Its range extends north from Colombia, where it is found in the Western, Central, and Eastern Cordilleras. It continu...
Least Concern
- The Ashy-headed Tyrannulet is one of the smallest members of the Tyrannidae family, earning its place among the 'tyrannulets' or 'little tyrants'. - Its scientific name 'cinereiceps' is Latin for 'ash-colored head,' perfectly describing its most distinctive feature. - This species is often iden...