Black-crested Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes nigrocristatus)

Identification & Behavior:~13 cm (5.1 in). The Black-crested Tit-tyrant is mostly streaked with black and white; broad streaks on the underparts. The male has a black head with a long black crest and white crown patch. The female has a finely streaked head, a wispy black crest, and reduced white crown patch. The juvenile has finely streaked underparts. The tail is mostly black with white webbing on the outer tail feathers. It appears to be associated with Polylepis woodlands and adjacent scrub. It is very similar to the Pied-crested Tit-tyrant but is distinguished by larger size, a black crest with multiple black feathers, and by ranging at a higher elevation a the limited area these species may overlap.

Status: The Black-crested Tit-tyrant is fairly common on the west slope of the Andes from Piura to Ancash and parts of Huanuco at elevations ranging between 2100-4000 m. It also occurs in Ec.

Name in Spanish: Torito de Cresta Negra.

Sub-species: Black-crested Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes nigrocristatus), Taczanowski, 1884.

Meaning of Name: Anairetes: Gr. anairetes= destroyer. nigrocristatus: L. niger= black and crista= crest, cristatus= crested.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae