Phyllomyias sclateri
The Sclater's Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias sclateri) is a diminutive yet spritely tyrant-flycatcher, measuring approximately 10-11 cm (4-4.3 inches) in length and weighing a mere 7-9 grams. Its plumage is characterized by olive-green upperparts, a dark, often somewhat dusky crown, and noticeably pale yellowish-white to pale yellow underparts, which can be brighter on the belly. Key field marks for identification include two distinct, pale (whitish to yellowish) wingbars that contrast with the dark...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane forests, cloud forests, and forest borders, often extending into secondary growth. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,500 meters (3,900-8,200 feet) above sea level.
The diet of the Sclater's Tyrannulet consists predominantly of small insects and spiders, which it gleans from foliage and occasionally catches in flight. It may also consume very small fruits or berries incidentally.
Sclater's Tyrannulet is a diurnal and highly active bird, frequently observed flitting through the middle to upper canopy of its forest habitat. It employs a foraging strategy that involves gleaning small insects and spiders directly from leaves and twigs, often while hovering briefly, and occasi...
The Sclater's Tyrannulet is a resident species found across disjunct populations throughout the Andes of South America. The nominate subspecies, *P. s. sclateri*, ranges from the Western and Central Andes of Colombia and the Cordillera de Mérida in western Venezuela, south through the Andean slop...
Least Concern
- This tiny tyrannulet is often one of the smallest birds encountered in the Andean mixed-species flocks it joins. - Its scientific name, *Phyllomyias sclateri*, honors the distinguished British ornithologist Philip Sclater. - Despite its widespread Andean range, its small size and preference for...