Poecilotriccus luluae
The Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher (Poecilotriccus luluae) is a diminutive yet striking Neotropical passerine, measuring approximately 10-10.5 cm in length and weighing a mere 7-8 grams. Its upperparts are a vibrant olive-green, contrasting with a greyish crown and a distinct white supercilium that stands out against blackish ear-coverts. The throat is bright white, transitioning to whitish underparts subtly streaked dusky on the breast and flanks, often with a faint yellowish wash on the belly. A sh...
This specialized species inhabits the dense understory and edge habitats of humid montane forest and cloud forest, often found near streams and in secondary growth with tangled vegetation. It typically occurs at elevations between 1200 and 2400 meters in the Andean foothills.
This flycatcher is primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small arthropods, including insects and spiders. It forages by gleaning prey from leaves and twigs or by performing quick aerial sallies.
Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher is a diurnal and highly active insectivore, typically observed singly or in pairs as it flits through dense foliage in the lower to mid-canopy during daylight hours. Roosting habits are not well-documented but likely involve sheltered perches within dense vegetation. Its pr...
Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher possesses an exceptionally restricted and fragmented geographic distribution, being endemic to the humid eastern slopes of the Andes in northern Peru. Its known range spans small, isolated pockets within the departments of Amazonas, San MartÃn, and Cajamarca, typically alon...
Endangered
- Despite its name, Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher is not closely related to the true todies (family Todidae) found in the Caribbean; it merely shares a similar small size and active foraging style. - It is named after Lulu G. Schulenberg, the daughter of the ornithologist Thomas S. Schulenberg, who was ...