Arundinicola leucocephala
The White-headed Marsh Tyrant (Arundinicola leucocephala) is a strikingly dimorphic small tyrant flycatcher belonging to the family Tyrannidae, typically measuring 12-14 cm (4.7-5.5 inches) in length and weighing 8-12 grams. Males are unmistakable with their pure white head, throat, and underparts, starkly contrasted by a glossy black back, wings, and tail; their short, black bill and black legs complete this elegant appearance, serving as its primary and most distinctive field mark. Females,...
This species exclusively inhabits freshwater wetlands, preferring marshes, swamps, and the reedy margins of ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, typically at low elevations up to around 1000 meters.
The White-headed Marsh Tyrant feeds almost exclusively on small flying insects, which it captures primarily by aerial hawking, sallying from perches over water.
The White-headed Marsh Tyrant is a diurnal and conspicuous species, often seen perched openly on reeds, emergent vegetation, or low wires directly above water. Its primary foraging strategy involves aerial hawking; it sallies out from its perch to snatch flying insects in mid-air, often returning...
The White-headed Marsh Tyrant is a widespread resident species found across much of Central and South America, with its extensive distribution stretching from eastern Panama south through Colombia, Venezuela, and the Guianas. Its range continues across a vast expanse of Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay,...
Least Concern
- The White-headed Marsh Tyrant is the sole member of its genus, *Arundinicola*, meaning it represents a unique and ancient lineage among flycatchers. - Males possess one of the most striking instances of sexual dimorphism among Neotropical flycatchers, with their pure white head and body contras...