Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris)

Identification & Behavior: ~13.5 cm (5.2 in). The Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant is uniformly slaty-gray with white superciliary and a variable amount of chestnut on the underparts. Birds on the north/west side of the Marañon Valley have the breast and belly chestnut. Birds on the east/south of the Marañon Valley have limited chestnut on the breast only. It forages in the vegetation that overhangs over fast flowing streams. Habitat selection and very dark coloration are diagnostic when compared to the closely related Crowned Chat-Tyrant.

Status: The Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant is uncommon in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1800-3300 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Pitajo de Dorso Pizarroso.

Sub-species: Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris cinnamomeiventris), (Lafresnaye), 1843.  Andes of SW Venezuela (W Táchira) and Colombia (from Antioquia and Santander) S to Ecuador (on W slope S to Chimborazo) and extreme N Peru.
(Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris angustifasciata), Chapman, 1926.  N Peru, from S Amazonas S to R Marañón, also E Cajamarca S to SW San Martín.
(Ochthoeca cinnamomeiventris thoracica), Taczanowski, 1874.  C & SE Peru (S from Pasco) S to N Bolivia (S to Cochabamba).

Meaning of Name: Ochthoeca: Gr. okhthos= bank, mound and oikos, oikeo = dwelling, to inhabit.
cinnamomeiventris: L. cinnamomeus= cinnamon-coloured and venter, ventris= belly.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae