Colonia colonus
The Long-tailed Tyrant (*Colonia colonus*) is a truly striking neotropical passerine, instantly recognizable by its extraordinarily elongated, deeply forked tail, which can measure up to 30 cm, nearly equaling its 25 cm body length. This medium-sized flycatcher, weighing around 25-30 grams, boasts glossy black plumage contrasted sharply with a brilliant white supercilium and pristine white underparts, culminating in distinctive bright yellow undertail coverts. Its unique appearance makes it s...
This species favors humid tropical and subtropical evergreen forests, particularly at edges, clearings with tall emergent trees, and secondary growth, typically found from lowlands up to 2,000 meters in elevation.
The diet of the Long-tailed Tyrant consists almost exclusively of flying insects, which it captures mid-air using a sally-strike foraging technique.
The Long-tailed Tyrant is a diurnal insectivore, spending its days perching conspicuously on the highest exposed branches of dead snags or emergent trees, often remaining motionless for extended periods. Its primary foraging strategy involves acrobatic sallying, where it launches into swift, agil...
The Long-tailed Tyrant boasts an extensive neotropical distribution, spanning from Central America south throughout much of South America. Its breeding range encompasses eastern Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, continuing through Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivi...
Least Concern
- The Long-tailed Tyrant's tail can be nearly as long as its entire body, making it one of the most uniquely proportioned flycatchers. - Despite its extravagant tail, it is an incredibly agile flyer, performing rapid aerial maneuvers to catch insects. - It often perches on the very highest, expos...