Little Ground-Tyrant (Syrtidicola fluviatilis)

Identification & Behavior: ~13.5 cm (5.2 in). The Little Ground-Tyrant has grayish upperparts and whitish underparts. The edging on the wing coverts and flight feathers varies from buffy to rufous. The tail is black with white webbing on the outer tail feathers. It forages largely on bare ground or sparsely grassed river edges where it stands upright. It is similar to the Drab Water-Tyrant but distinguished by foraging on the bare ground, standing upright, and having a black tail with white webbing on the outer tail feathers.

Status: The Little Ground-Tyrant is uncommon and widespread in central and southern Amazonia, where it is known to range up to 1500 m along the Andes’ foothill. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Dormilona Enana.

Sub-species: Little Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola fluviatilis), P. L. Sclater and Salvin, 1866.

Meaning of Name: Muscisaxicola: From the genus Muscicapa Brisson 1760 (flycatcher) and genus Saxicola (wheatear Oenanthe). fluviatilis: L. fluvius, fluvii= river, fluviatilis= riverine, of a river.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae