Polystictus superciliaris
The Grey-backed Tachuri (*Polystictus superciliaris*) is a diminutive and often elusive tyrant flycatcher, typically measuring between 8.5-9.5 cm in length and weighing a mere 5-6 grams, making it one of the smallest members of its family. Its most distinctive field mark is a prominent, clean white supercilium that sharply contrasts with a dark loral stripe, all framed by an otherwise muted olive-grey back, crown, and wings. The underparts are whitish, often with a faint yellowish wash on the...
This species primarily inhabits dry, open grasslands, montane cerrado, and campo rupestre, often with scattered shrubs and stunted trees, typically found at elevations between 700 to 1,500 meters.
Strictly insectivorous, feeding primarily on small arthropods including flies, tiny beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects captured through aerial sallies and gleaning from vegetation.
Grey-backed Tachuris are diurnal, actively foraging during daylight hours and retreating to dense, low vegetation for roosting at night. They exhibit a characteristic "sally-glean" foraging strategy, perching inconspicuously on low grass stems, fence wires, or small branches, then darting out to ...
The Grey-backed Tachuri is endemic to central-eastern Brazil, with its distribution primarily concentrated in the states of Minas Gerais, Goiás, Bahia, and extending marginally into portions of São Paulo. It exists in disjunct populations, strictly adhering to its specialized montane grasslands (...
Least Concern
- The Grey-backed Tachuri is one of the smallest flycatchers in the world, often compared in size to hummingbirds. - Its scientific genus name, *Polystictus*, translates to "many points" or "many spots," referring to subtle plumage details that are often hard to discern in the field. - Despite it...