Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops)

Identification & Behavior: ~11 cm (4.3 in). The Golden-faced Tyrannulet has a gray-olive mantle and head. The iris is dark. The bill is black. It has a yellow face and broad and bright yellow lores. The underparts are gray. The wing coverts are dusky edged with yellow creating a patterned folded wing. It forages in the canopy and sub-canopy of the humid montane and also semi-deciduous forests (flavidifrons). It is very similar to the Peruvian Tyrannulet which is accepted as different species. However, there is “unresolved” overlap between vocal and plumage characters where these two forms are sympatric.

Status: The Golden-faced Tyrannulet is fairly common in the humid montane forest on the east slope of the Andes largely in Amazonas and San Martin. It generally occurs at elevations ranging between 1200-2600 m. It also occurs at lower elevations in semi-deciduous forests in Tumbes and humid montane forests of Piura and Cajamarca (flavidifrons). The Golden-faced Tyrannulet also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Moscareta de Cara Dorada.

Sub-species: Golden-faced Tyrannulet (Zimmerius chrysops chrysops), (P. L. Sclater), 1859. Sierra de Perijá and Andes of NW Venezuela, Colombia (except Nariño), E Ecuador and N Peru (S to San Martín).

Meaning of Name: Zimmerius: In honor of Dr. John Todd Zimmer (1889-1957) US ornithologist, taxonomist. chrysops: Gr. khrusos= gold and ops, opos= face.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae