Phylloscartes oustaleti
The Oustalet's Tyrannulet (Phylloscartes oustaleti) is a diminutive and engaging passerine of the Atlantic Forest, measuring a mere 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 inches) in length and weighing approximately 7-9 grams. This sprightly bird captivates with its olive-green upperparts, a slightly grayer crown, and strikingly pale yellowish underparts, beautifully contrasted by a prominent white supercilium and a dark eye-line. Two distinctive yellowish wing-bars often stand out against its dusky wings, servin...
Found primarily in the humid Atlantic Forest, inhabiting the mid-story and subcanopy of evergreen and semi-deciduous forests from lowlands up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in elevation.
Feeds almost exclusively on small insects and arthropods, which it obtains primarily by gleaning from foliage and twigs, supplemented by occasional short aerial sallies.
Oustalet's Tyrannulets are diurnal and highly active, constantly on the move through the forest's mid-story and subcanopy. Their foraging strategy primarily involves active gleaning of small insects and arthropods from the undersides of leaves and twigs, often performed with rapid, acrobatic move...
The Oustalet's Tyrannulet is endemic to the humid Atlantic Forest biome of southeastern South America, primarily within Brazil, extending into northeastern Argentina and eastern Paraguay. In Brazil, its distribution spans a broad arc from the state of Espírito Santo south through Minas Gerais, Ri...
Least Concern
- The Oustalet's Tyrannulet is named after Émile Oustalet, a prominent French zoologist and ornithologist from the 19th century. - Despite its small size, it's an incredibly active forager, constantly flitting through the mid-story and subcanopy of the forest. - It is a quintessential member of t...