Ochthoeca superciliosa
The Rufous-browed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca superciliosa) is a small, energetic flycatcher of the Andean cloud forests, measuring approximately 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) in length. Its most distinctive field mark, giving it its common name, is the prominent rufous (reddish-brown) supercilium or brow-stripe, which contrasts sharply with its dark loral patch and ear-coverts. The upperparts are a dull olive-brown, while the underparts are predominantly yellowish, often with an olive wash on the fla...
Found primarily in humid montane evergreen forests, cloud forests, and forest borders, typically at elevations ranging from 1,800 to 3,000 meters (5,900 to 9,800 feet) above sea level.
Exclusively insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small to medium-sized aerial insects caught during sallying flights, as well as some gleaned from vegetation.
This active and restless flycatcher is most frequently observed perched upright on exposed branches or twigs within the forest understory or canopy, often near forest edges or clearings. It employs a classic 'sally-and-return' foraging strategy, launching short flights to snatch insects from the ...
The Rufous-browed Chat-Tyrant is endemic to the Andes Mountains of South America, with a discontinuous distribution spanning Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and extreme northern Peru. In Venezuela, it is found in the Mérida Andes and the northern section of the Eastern Cordillera. In Colombia, its ...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-browed Chat-Tyrant gets its name 'Chat-Tyrant' from its somewhat chat-like vocalizations and its classification within the Tyrannidae, the 'tyrant flycatcher' family. - Its most striking feature, the bright rufous brow, is a key identification mark and gave rise to its common name. -...