Phyllomyias griseiceps
The Sooty-headed Tyrannulet (Phyllomyias griseiceps) is a diminutive yet vibrant member of the tyrant flycatcher family (Tyrannidae), typically measuring just 10-11 cm (4 inches) in length and weighing a mere 7-9 grams. Its appearance is subtle but distinct: a smoky gray head, which gives it its common name, contrasts softly with an olive-green back and a pale, often yellowish-washed belly. Key identification marks include two pale, sometimes faint, wing bars on its darker wings and a dark ir...
This species primarily inhabits humid montane forests, cloud forests, and mature secondary growth, often found at forest edges and in shade coffee plantations. It typically occurs at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,000 meters, though it can occasionally be found outside this range.
The diet consists predominantly of small insects and other arthropods, which they glean actively from foliage and twigs. They may occasionally supplement this with tiny berries or fruit pulp, especially when insects are scarce.
Sooty-headed Tyrannulets are highly active, diurnal birds, constantly flitting through the canopy and subcanopy foliage. Their foraging strategy primarily involves gleaning insects from the undersides of leaves and small branches, often employing short, acrobatic hover-gleans. They are frequently...
The Sooty-headed Tyrannulet boasts a wide distribution across Central and South America, spanning from Costa Rica and Panama southward through the Andean cordillera. In South America, its range extends along the western slopes of the Andes from Colombia, through Ecuador, Peru, and into central Bo...
Least Concern
- Despite its "sooty-headed" name, its head is more of a subtle smoky gray, offering a beautiful contrast to its olive back and pale underparts. - It's one of the smallest members of the vast Tyrant Flycatcher family (Tyrannidae), a group with over 400 species. - Sooty-headed Tyrannulets are ofte...