Anairetes reguloides
The Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes reguloides) is a diminutive and sprightly passerine endemic to the arid and semi-arid regions of western South America. Measuring a mere 11-12 cm in length and weighing just 6.5-8.5 grams, this tiny tyrant-flycatcher is instantly recognizable by its prominent, shaggy black-and-white streaked crest, which it often erects, giving it a distinctive 'pied' appearance. Its upperparts are a dull olive-grey or brownish-grey, contrasting with its paler, often whi...
This species primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid scrublands, open woodlands, and thorny riverine thickets, often in valleys or foothills. It thrives in elevations ranging from near sea level up to approximately 2,500 meters.
It primarily consumes small insects and other arthropods, which it expertly gleans from foliage or catches in short, acrobatic aerial sallies.
The Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant is an exceptionally active and agile bird, constantly flitting through foliage and branches with tit-like acrobatics. Its foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning insects from leaves and twigs, often hanging upside down to reach prey, and it also performs short, q...
The Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant is endemic to the western slope of the Andes in Peru and the extreme northern reaches of Chile, where it is primarily a resident species. The nominate subspecies, *A. r. reguloides*, is found throughout western Peru, extending from the Ancash region south through Lima ...
Least Concern
- The 'tit-tyrant' moniker accurately describes its behavior, combining the active, acrobatic foraging style of a tit with the taxonomic classification of a New World flycatcher (tyrant-flycatcher). - Despite its small size, often under 12 cm, its prominent, spiky crest gives it a surprisingly bo...