Muscisaxicola juninensis
The Puna Ground Tyrant, *Muscisaxicola juninensis*, is a dapper and hardy member of the Tyrannidae family, specifically tailored for life in the extreme high-Andean Puna. This medium-sized flycatcher measures approximately 16-19 cm in length and weighs about 25-35 grams, sporting a sleek, ash-grey crown and upperparts that seamlessly blend into its rocky habitat. Distinctive field marks include a contrasting white supercilium that narrows behind the eye, a dark lore, and a generally pristine ...
Exclusively found in the high-Andean Puna and Altiplano, favoring open, sparsely vegetated grasslands, bogs, and rocky slopes near glacial lakes and streams. It primarily occurs at elevations ranging from 3,000 to over 4,800 meters above sea level.
Feeds almost exclusively on a variety of terrestrial insects, including beetles, grasshoppers, ants, and flies. It primarily forages by gleaning from the ground or making short aerial sallies.
The Puna Ground Tyrant is primarily diurnal, active during daylight hours, and often roosts in rock crevices or among dense puna vegetation at night. Its foraging strategy is predominantly terrestrial; it runs and hops across the ground like a pipit or lark, pausing to dart after insects, or perf...
The Puna Ground Tyrant's range is restricted to the high Andes of western South America, primarily within the Puna and Altiplano ecoregions. Its breeding grounds span central and southern Peru (including Junín, Cusco, Puno), Bolivia (La Paz, Oruro, Potosí), extreme northern Chile (Tarapacá, Antof...
Least Concern
- The Puna Ground Tyrant is one of the highest-dwelling flycatchers in the world, regularly found above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). - Its genus name, *Muscisaxicola*, literally translates from Latin as 'mouse-stone-dweller,' accurately describing its ground-hugging behavior among rocky terrain. -...