Muscisaxicola capistratus
The Cinnamon-bellied Ground Tyrant (*Muscisaxicola capistratus*) is a striking member of the Tyrannidae family, instantly recognizable by its distinctive rufous or cinnamon underparts that sharply contrast with its gray upperparts. This medium-sized flycatcher, measuring approximately 18-19 cm (7.1-7.5 inches) in length with a wingspan of about 30-32 cm, features a prominent black crown, a contrasting white supercilium, and a black tail with white outer rectrices, all contributing to its uniq...
Primarily inhabits open, high-altitude grasslands, puna, and barren plains, often associated with rocky outcrops, sparse scrub, or tussock grass. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 2,500 to 4,500 meters (8,200 to 14,760 feet) in the Andes.
Feeds almost exclusively on insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, flies, and other small invertebrates, which it primarily captures by sallying from low perches or gleaning from the ground.
As a diurnal species, the Cinnamon-bellied Ground Tyrant is actively engaged in foraging throughout the day, often seen perched conspicuously on a rock or small clump of grass. Its primary foraging strategy involves sallying forth from these low perches to snatch insects directly from the ground ...
The Cinnamon-bellied Ground Tyrant has an extensive, though somewhat disjunct, distribution across the high Andes of South America. Its breeding range spans from central Peru southward through the highlands of Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, extending as far south as Chubut province in Argentina. ...
Least Concern
- The genus name *Muscisaxicola* is a portmanteau, combining the Latin 'musca' (fly) with 'saxum' (rock) and 'incola' (dweller), perfectly describing its lifestyle as a "rock-dwelling flycatcher. - Despite being a "flycatcher," it spends the majority of its time foraging on the ground, rather tha...