Knipolegus cabanisi
The Plumbeous Tyrant (Knipolegus cabanisi) is a striking, medium-sized flycatcher inhabiting the high Andes, known for its pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are predominantly sleek, glossy dark plumbeous gray, almost black, with a contrasting white wing patch often visible in flight or display, and a distinctive bright red iris. They measure around 17-18 cm (6.7-7.1 inches) in length and weigh 20-25 grams. Females present a considerably different appearance, typically being paler gray-brown...
Inhabits high-altitude temperate forests, woodlands, and shrublands, often favoring humid ravines, forest edges, and areas with rocky outcrops or scattered trees between 1,500m and 3,500m elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a wide range of flying insects such as flies, beetles, wasps, and grasshoppers, captured on the wing using sally-strike foraging.
Plumbeous Tyrants are diurnal birds, often observed perching conspicuously on exposed branches, snags, or wires, maintaining an alert, upright posture. Their primary foraging strategy is the classic “sally-strike” of a flycatcher: they scan for airborne insects from a high vantage point, then lau...
The Plumbeous Tyrant is endemic to the high-altitude Andean regions of southern Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. Its breeding range spans across these mountainous areas, typically found at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 meters above sea level, with some records extending up to 4...
Least Concern
- The name "Plumbeous" refers to the male's lead-gray plumage, derived from the Latin "plumbum" for lead. - Males possess a striking bright red iris, a field mark often overlooked but quite distinctive in the field. - Despite its common name, the Plumbeous Tyrant is not a true "tyrant" in the agg...