Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca jelskii)

Identification & Behavior: ~12.5 cm (5 in). The Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant has brown upperparts. It has two rufous wing bars. The crown is dusky gray bordered by a broad white superciliary. It has bright yellow lores that do not go past the eye. The sides of the head and rest of the underparts are gray with a brownish lower belly. The bill is black. It forages in the thick understory of humid montane forests. It is similar to the Crowned Chat-Tyrant but their ranges do not overlap.

Status: Endemic. The Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant is uncommon on the west slope of the Andes and both slopes (facing) the Marañon Valley, but not on the east-facing slope of the Andes. It ranges at elevations between 2300-3200 m.

Name in Spanish: Pitajo de Jelski.

Sub-species: Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca jelskii), Taczanowski, 1883.

Meaning of Name: Ochthoeca: Gr. okhthos= bank, mound and oikos, oikeo = dwelling, to inhabit. jelskii: In honor of Konstanty Roman Jelski (1838-1896) Polish zoologist, explorer, Curator of Lima Mus. 1874-1878, Curator of Krakow Mus. 1878-1896.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae