Tunchiornis ochraceiceps
The Ochre-crowned Greenlet (Tunchiornis ochraceiceps) is a small, vibrant passerine, typically measuring 11-13 cm in length and weighing around 10-15 grams. Its most striking feature is its bright rufous-orange (ochre) crown, which stands out against an otherwise subtle olive-green back and yellowish underparts, complemented by a pale eye-ring and grayish lores. These field marks are key to its identification amidst the dense tropical foliage it inhabits. Taxonomically, it belongs to the Vire...
This species primarily inhabits humid tropical and subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests, favoring the mid-story and canopy layers, though it can descend to dense undergrowth. It is typically found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1500 meters, occasionally reaching 2000 meters in some...
Its diet consists predominantly of insects and spiders, which it gleans from foliage and twigs. It occasionally supplements its insectivorous diet with small berries or fruit pulp.
The Ochre-crowned Greenlet is a diurnal bird, generally encountered singly or in pairs, though it frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks, especially outside the breeding season. It forages actively and methodically, gleaning insects and spiders from the undersides of leaves and small bran...
The Ochre-crowned Greenlet boasts a wide and extensive distribution across Central and South America. Its range begins in southeastern Mexico, specifically in regions like Veracruz and Chiapas, extending south through the entirety of Central America, including Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicarag...
Least Concern
- The Ochre-crowned Greenlet was recently reclassified into the genus Tunchiornis, highlighting its unique evolutionary path within the Vireonidae family. - Despite its vibrant crown, its overall olive and yellow plumage provides excellent camouflage, making it surprisingly difficult to spot in t...