Pogonotriccus ophthalmicus
The Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant (Pogonotriccus ophthalmicus) is a diminutive yet distinctive member of the Tyrannidae family, showcasing the subtle elegance characteristic of Neotropical flycatchers. Measuring approximately 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 inches) in length and weighing 8-12 grams, this small passerine is identified by its greenish upperparts, a dusky gray crown, and two subtle yellowish wingbars. Its most notable field marks include a prominent white supraloral stripe and a broken white ey...
Primarily inhabits subtropical and temperate montane forests, cloud forests, and forest edges, typically at elevations ranging from 700 to 2,400 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small flying insects caught in mid-air (sallying) or gleaned from leaves and branches.
The Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant is a highly active, primarily diurnal insectivore. It generally forages solitarily or in pairs, but is also a frequent and conspicuous participant in mixed-species foraging flocks, moving rapidly through the understory and mid-story. Its primary foraging strategy i...
The Marble-faced Bristle Tyrant boasts a widespread, albeit somewhat disjunct, distribution across the Andes mountain range of South America, primarily within subtropical and temperate zones. Its breeding range extends from the northern reaches of Venezuela and Colombia, south through the extensi...
Least Concern
- The "bristle" in its name refers to the prominent rictal bristles around its bill, which act like sensory whiskers or a net to aid in capturing flying insects. - Despite its widespread range across the Andes, detailed studies on its breeding biology, such as nest structure or clutch size, remai...