Serpophaga cinerea
The Torrent Tyrannulet (Serpophaga cinerea) is a diminutive and distinctive member of the Tyrannidae family, measuring just 10-11 cm (4.0-4.3 inches) in length and weighing a mere 6-9 grams. Its plumage is characterized by a sleek gray back, a clean white throat and belly, and dark wings adorned with two conspicuous white wing-bars that are key identification marks. A short, dark tail, often flicked expressively, and a variable white supercilium add to its charm, while the yellow base to its ...
This species exclusively inhabits fast-flowing streams and rivers in mountainous and hilly terrain, often perching on emergent rocks or low overhanging vegetation at elevations typically ranging from near sea level up to 4,000 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on small flying insects such as flies, midges, and small beetles, captured predominantly through aerial sallies from a perch.
The Torrent Tyrannulet is a highly active diurnal bird, spending its days darting and perching along the banks and amidst the rocks of its namesake torrents. Its foraging strategy is primarily that of an aerial insectivore, performing short, agile sallies to snatch flying insects from the air, of...
The Torrent Tyrannulet boasts a wide yet fragmented distribution across Central and South America, primarily along the Andean cordillera and associated mountain ranges. Its breeding range extends from Costa Rica and western Panama, southward through the Andes of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru...
Least Concern
- The Torrent Tyrannulet is one of the few small passerines truly specialized for life alongside fast-flowing mountain streams and rivers. - Its distinctive, almost constant tail-wagging behavior is so pronounced that it's often the first clue to its identification, even from a distance. - Nests ...