Brown-capped Tyrannulet

Ornithion brunneicapillus

The Brown-capped Tyrannulet (Ornithion brunneicapillus) is a diminutive and active member of the Tyrannidae family, measuring a mere 9.5-10.5 cm (3.7-4.1 in) in length and weighing just 7.5-8.5 g. Its most distinctive feature is a dark brown cap that contrasts sharply with its olive-green upperparts, giving rise to its common name. The face is adorned with conspicuous pale lores and a prominent pale eye-ring, creating a 'spectacled' appearance, while its underparts are whitish, often with a s...

Habitat

Inhabits humid lowland and foothill evergreen forests, forest edges, and clearings with scattered trees, typically found between 300 and 1500 meters elevation.

Diet

Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small arthropods, including spiders, gleaned from foliage and bark or occasionally caught in short aerial sallies.

Behavior

The Brown-capped Tyrannulet is a highly active and restless diurnal bird, constantly moving through the forest canopy and mid-story. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleaning small arthropods from leaves, twigs, and bark, often hanging upside down to inspect the undersides of foliage. It ma...

Range

The Brown-capped Tyrannulet is a resident species with a broad distribution spanning Central and northwestern South America. Its range extends from eastern Honduras, through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Southward, it continues into northern and western Colombia, western Ecuador, and into th...

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Fun Facts

- The Brown-capped Tyrannulet is one of the smallest members of the vast Tyrannidae family, often weighing less than a quarter of an ounce! - Despite its small size, it's an incredibly active forager, constantly hopping and flitting through the canopy. - Its distinctive dark brown cap and promine...

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