Knipolegus hudsoni
Hudson's Black Tyrant (*Knipolegus hudsoni*) is a striking member of the Tyrannidae family, showcasing pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are uniformly glossy black, often revealing a hidden white patch at the base of their primaries during flight, contrasting with their fiery red iris. They measure approximately 16-18 cm (6-7 inches) in length. Females are duller, exhibiting brownish-black upperparts, often with rufous or buffy wing bars, and paler, sometimes streaked, underparts, yet also ...
This species primarily inhabits open grasslands, savannas, shrublands, and chaco forest edges, often near water or scattered trees, typically found at low to mid-elevations (up to 1,500 meters).
Its diet consists almost exclusively of insects, including flies, beetles, grasshoppers, and wasps, which it captures primarily by sallying from an open perch.
Hudson's Black Tyrant is a diurnal species, often observed perching conspicuously on exposed branches, fence posts, or tall shrubs, from which it launches its characteristic sally-strike foraging for insects. It is primarily a sit-and-wait predator, darting out to snatch prey in mid-air or from v...
Hudson's Black Tyrant is a long-distance austral migrant, with distinct breeding and wintering ranges. Its primary breeding grounds span central and northern Argentina, extending into extreme eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay, and occasionally into southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul). During the ...
Least Concern
- The "Hudson" in its name honors William Henry Hudson, a renowned Anglo-Argentine naturalist and author. - Male Hudson's Black Tyrants possess a striking hidden white patch at the base of their primary flight feathers, often only visible in flight or during display. - This species undertakes one...