Nesotriccus murinus
The Mouse-colored Tyrannulet (Nesotriccus murinus) is a diminutive and unassuming passerine, often overlooked but holding a significant ecological niche across its South American range. Averaging 10-11 cm in length and weighing a mere 6-9 grams, it embodies the classic 'tyrannulet' form: small, active, and primarily insectivorous. Its plumage is aptly named, presenting a uniform mouse-gray to olive-gray back and head, often with a slightly paler, sometimes yellowish-tinged, belly and throat. ...
Primarily found in forest edges, clearings, secondary growth, riverine woodlands, and plantations, often at elevations from sea level up to around 1,800 meters, though typically below 1,000 meters.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of small insects and other arthropods, primarily caught through active aerial flycatching or gleaning from vegetation.
Mouse-colored Tyrannulets are highly active, diurnal insectivores, constantly flitting through vegetation or sallying from exposed perches. Their foraging strategy predominantly involves flycatching, making short, acrobatic aerial sorties to snatch insects from the air or gleaning them from folia...
The Mouse-colored Tyrannulet boasts an extensive distribution across much of tropical South America, predominantly as a resident species. Its breeding and year-round range spans the Amazon Basin, extending from southern Colombia and southern Venezuela eastward through the Guianas (Guyana, Surinam...
Least Concern
- Its genus name, *Nesotriccus*, means "island flycatcher" (referring to the Cocos Island Flycatcher, its closest relative), while *murinus* is Latin for "mouse-colored," perfectly describing its drab plumage. - Despite its small size, it's an exceptionally active forager, rarely staying still fo...