Tityra cayana
The Black-tailed Tityra (*Tityra cayana*) is a striking medium-sized passerine native to the Neotropics, renowned for its distinctive sexual dimorphism and bold facial markings. Males are predominantly glossy white with contrasting black wings and tail, a black crown, and a prominent crimson eyering extending to the lores, creating an almost masked appearance. Females, by contrast, are a duller brownish-grey on the back, often with a rufous wash, and whitish underparts that can be faintly str...
This species primarily inhabits humid lowland and foothill tropical and subtropical forests, ranging from mature woodlands to secondary growth, forest edges, and even plantations. They typically occur at elevations from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters, occasionally higher in some local...
The diet of the Black-tailed Tityra consists primarily of large insects such as beetles, cicadas, and orthopterans, supplemented by spiders and a significant portion of fruits. They forage by sallying from perches to catch prey in flight and by gleaning invertebrates from foliage and branches.
Black-tailed Tityras are diurnal birds, often observed singly or in pairs, though they may occasionally join mixed-species foraging flocks. Their foraging strategy involves sallying from a perch to snatch large insects in flight, alongside gleaning insects and spiders from foliage and branches. W...
The Black-tailed Tityra boasts an extensive geographic distribution across the Neotropics, being a year-round resident throughout its range. It spans from the tropical lowlands of southern Mexico, specifically states like Veracruz, Tabasco, and Chiapas, southwards through Belize, Guatemala, Hondu...
Least Concern
- The Black-tailed Tityra is one of the few Neotropical passerines known to frequently nest in tree cavities, often utilizing abandoned woodpecker holes. - Despite its name, its tail is not entirely black; males have an all-black tail, but females can show some dark brown. - The striking crimson ...