Attila phoenicurus
The Rufous-tailed Attila (Attila phoenicurus) is a strikingly marked member of the Tyrannidae family, inhabiting the Neotropical lowlands and foothills. Measuring approximately 17-18 cm (6.7-7.1 inches) in length and weighing 31-41 g (1.1-1.4 oz), this species is easily identified by its contrasting bright rufous tail set against an olive-brown back. Its head is dusky gray with a subtle pale eye-ring, while the throat is whitish or pale yellow, transitioning to vibrant yellow underparts. Dist...
Found in moist lowland and foothill evergreen forests, the Rufous-tailed Attila also frequents forest borders and clearings with scattered tall trees, typically at elevations up to 1,500 meters.
The diet consists mainly of large insects, such as beetles, wasps, ants, and caterpillars, along with spiders. It also consumes a significant amount of small fruits and berries, foraging by sallying and gleaning.
This generally solitary bird is often secretive, spending much of its day perched upright and motionless in the dense canopy or mid-story, making it challenging to observe despite its loud vocalizations. Its foraging strategy primarily involves sallying out from a perch to snatch flying insects, ...
The Rufous-tailed Attila is a resident species distributed widely across the Neotropics, from southeastern Nicaragua south through Central America into northern South America. Its range encompasses the Caribbean slope of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, extending into Colombia across its Caribb...
Least Concern
- The Rufous-tailed Attila is named after Attila the Hun, not for its physical aggression, but for the bold, powerful, and somewhat 'aggressive' nature of its song. - Despite its loud and far-carrying vocalizations, it is often difficult to spot as it prefers to remain hidden within dense forest ...