Sirystes albogriseus
The Choco Sirystes, `Sirystes albogriseus`, is a sleek and enigmatic member of the Tyrannidae family, boasting a distinctive pale grey plumage contrasting with a bright white belly and vent. Measuring approximately 17-18 cm (6.7-7.1 inches) in length and weighing 20-30 grams (0.7-1.1 ounces), this medium-sized tyrant flycatcher is characterized by conspicuous white patches on its primary coverts and secondaries, often visible in flight or when perching with wings slightly spread. Its relative...
Occupies the canopy and subcanopy of humid tropical lowland and foothill forests, frequently found near forest edges, clearings, or along rivers, typically from sea level up to 1,000 meters (occasionally 1,200 meters) in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a diverse array of arthropods including beetles, grasshoppers, moths, and other large insects, captured through energetic aerial sallies or by gleaning from vegetation.
The Choco Sirystes is a diurnal bird, generally observed solitarily or in pairs, though it may occasionally join mixed-species flocks, particularly outside the breeding season. It employs a "sally-gleaning" foraging strategy, perching conspicuously on high, exposed branches within the canopy, pat...
The Choco Sirystes is a resident species, endemic to the humid tropical forests of the Chocó biogeographic region, an area renowned for its exceptional biodiversity. Its distribution spans from extreme eastern Panama, specifically in the Darién province near the Colombian border, southward throug...
Near Threatened
- Despite being classified as a tyrant flycatcher (Tyrannidae), the Choco Sirystes' strong, slightly hooked bill and powerful foraging style are more akin to those of a shrike or a cotinga. - The genus `Sirystes` was considered monotypic for a long time, with only the Sibilant Sirystes recognized...