Serpophaga griseicapilla
The Straneck's Tyrannulet (Serpophaga griseicapilla) is a diminutive and distinctive member of the Tyrannidae family, first described in 1994, making it a relatively recent addition to avian taxonomy. Measuring approximately 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 inches) in length and weighing around 7-9 grams, this small flycatcher possesses a subtle yet elegant plumage. Its most striking field mark is the pale grey cap that sharply contrasts with an olive-green back, a whitish throat, and soft yellowish underpa...
Found in subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests, gallery forests, and deciduous woodlands, typically near water courses, at elevations ranging from 300 to 1500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small insects and spiders captured through sallying flights and gleaning from foliage.
Straneck's Tyrannulet is an active and restless diurnal bird, often observed singly or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks in the mid-story or canopy. Its foraging strategy is typical of a flycatcher, involving quick sallies from an exposed perch to catch flying insects, though it al...
The Straneck's Tyrannulet is endemic to central and southern South America. Its primary distribution includes north-central Argentina, extending from Jujuy and Salta south through Catamarca, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Córdoba, Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, Misiones, and Entre Ríos. The range als...
Least Concern
- It was officially described as a new species in 1994 by ornithologists Olrog and Contreras, making it a relatively modern discovery in the world of birds. - The species is named in honor of Ricardo Straneck, an Argentine ornithologist and collector. - Despite its 'tyrannulet' moniker, which sug...