Mecocerculus poecilocercus
The White-tailed Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus poecilocercus) is a diminutive yet distinctive passerine belonging to the diverse Tyrannidae family, known for its active foraging style and specific Andean habitat. Measuring approximately 11-12 cm in length and weighing around 8-10 grams, this small flycatcher sports olive-brown upperparts, paler, often yellowish underparts, and two noticeable pale wing bars. Its most striking field mark, and the origin of its name, is the presence of prominent whit...
Found primarily in humid montane forests, cloud forests, and their borders, the White-tailed Tyrannulet thrives at high elevations, typically between 1,200 and 3,400 meters above sea level.
The White-tailed Tyrannulet's diet consists almost exclusively of small insects and other arthropods, which it obtains primarily through gleaning and short sallying flights from perches.
This active diurnal species is frequently observed foraging alone or in the mid-to-upper canopy of trees, often joining mixed-species flocks to exploit insect resources. Its foraging strategy involves active gleaning of insects from foliage and bark, short sallying flights to capture aerial prey,...
The White-tailed Tyrannulet is a resident species found exclusively in the northern and central Andes of South America. Its distribution spans from the Western and Central Andes of Colombia, south through the Andes of Ecuador, and extending into the northern portions of Peru. Specifically, in Col...
Least Concern
- The 'poecilocercus' in its scientific name directly translates to 'variegated tail,' referring to its distinctive white outer tail feathers. - Despite its small size, it's an incredibly agile flyer, adept at catching insects mid-air with quick, darting movements. - It is one of several 'tyrannu...