Pseudocolopteryx citreola
The Ticking Doradito (*Pseudocolopteryx citreola*) is a diminutive and striking member of the Tyrannidae family, often measuring a mere 11-12 cm in length and weighing 8-10 grams. Its name, 'doradito,' meaning 'little golden one' in Spanish, perfectly encapsulates its vibrant appearance: bright lemon-yellow underparts beautifully contrast with olive-green upperparts and a distinctive rufous-brown crown. Key field marks include two subtle, pale wing bars and its characteristic rufous cap. Taxo...
This species primarily inhabits freshwater and brackish wetlands, including marshes, reedy lagoons, and dense emergent vegetation near water bodies. It is typically found in lowlands and foothills, up to around 1500 meters.
Its diet consists almost entirely of small to medium-sized insects, including flies, beetles, moths, and spiders, which it primarily catches by sallying flights.
The Ticking Doradito is a diurnal and often skulking bird, spending much of its time hidden within dense marsh vegetation, though males become more conspicuous when singing. It forages actively, sallying from low perches like reed stems or emergent plants to catch insects in flight, or gleaning t...
The Ticking Doradito is an austral migrant endemic to South America. Its breeding range spans central Chile, from the Atacama region south to Aysén, and west-central Argentina, primarily from Neuquén and Río Negro north to Jujuy and Catamarca, often utilizing the vast wetlands of the Patagonian S...
Least Concern
- The 'Ticking' in its name directly refers to its distinctive, high-pitched, repetitive call that sounds like a tiny clock. - Doradito' is Spanish for 'little golden one,' a nod to its bright yellow underparts. - This tiny flycatcher is an austral migrant, breeding in temperate South America and...