Heteroxolmis dominicana
Heteroxolmis dominicana, the Black-and-white Monjita, is a striking Tyrant Flycatcher of South America, renowned for its bold, contrasting plumage. Males boast a crisp black head, back, wings, and tail, sharply delineated from brilliant white underparts, a conspicuous white rump, and a broad white wing bar. Measuring around 20-22 cm (8-8.5 inches) in length and weighing 30-40 grams, its upright stance on perches makes it an unmistakable sight. Females are subtly duller, often exhibiting grayi...
Open grasslands, savannas, pastures, and agricultural areas with scattered shrubs or low trees, typically found at elevations up to 1000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide range of invertebrates such as grasshoppers, beetles, flies, and caterpillars, typically captured through sally-gleaning.
The Black-and-white Monjita is diurnal, often seen perching prominently on fence posts, telephone wires, or the tops of low shrubs, surveying its surroundings. Its primary foraging strategy is "sally-gleaning" or "sally-striking," where it launches from a perch to capture insects in mid-air or sn...
The Black-and-white Monjita is an austral migrant found across a broad swathe of southern South America. Its breeding range encompasses eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, northern Argentina, Uruguay, and the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. During the austral winter, southern populations un...
Least Concern
- The Black-and-white Monjita's scientific name *Heteroxolmis* means "different Xolmis," distinguishing it from other closely related tyrant flycatchers. - Despite its striking appearance, it's surprisingly adept at blending into the sparse, open landscapes of its preferred habitat when motionles...