Hemitriccus flammulatus
The Flammulated Bamboo Tyrant, *Hemitriccus flammulatus*, is a diminutive and engaging member of the Tyrannidae family, specifically within the "tody-tyrant" group. Measuring approximately 10-10.5 cm (about 4 inches) in length and weighing a mere 7.5-8.5 grams, this species is characterized by its olive-green upperparts, which can have subtle rufous or flammulated streaking on the crown, giving it its distinctive name. Its wings are dusky, prominently marked with two yellowish-buff wing bars,...
This species primarily inhabits dense bamboo thickets (*Chusquea* species) within humid montane and foothill forests, typically found at elevations ranging from 700 to 2200 meters. It can also be encountered in secondary growth and forest edges where bamboo is abundant.
The diet of the Flammulated Bamboo Tyrant consists predominantly of small insects and other arthropods, which it obtains primarily by gleaning from foliage and stems within bamboo thickets. It also performs short sallying flights to catch airborne prey.
The Flammulated Bamboo Tyrant is an active yet often inconspicuous bird, typically observed alone or in pairs. It spends its days meticulously foraging within the dense bamboo, exhibiting an agile, acrobatic style, frequently hanging upside down to inspect leaves and stems. Foraging primarily inv...
The Flammulated Bamboo Tyrant exhibits a disjunct distribution across the eastern slopes of the Andes and adjacent lowlands of South America, with its presence strongly tied to the availability of dense bamboo thickets. Its primary breeding range extends from southeastern Colombia (Putumayo) and ...
Least Concern
- The Flammulated Bamboo Tyrant is one of the most specialized bamboo-dwelling birds in the Andes, rarely venturing far from its preferred *Chusquea* thickets. - Its scientific name, *Hemitriccus flammulatus*, refers to its small size ("hemi" meaning half, "triccus" related to small birds) and th...