White-browed Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola albilora)

Identification & Behavior: ~17 cm (6.8 in). The White-browed Ground-Tyrant is gray above and whitish-gray below. It has a rufous poorly defined crown. It has a well-defined white superciliary that goes past the eye and projects further back in some individuals. It forages in short grasslands often near water. It has an upright posture and looks long-legged. It is similar to the Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant but is distinguished by darker plumage, white superciliary, and a diffuse rufous crown. The also similar Puna Ground-Tyrant is smaller, overall paler with white edging on the wing coverts and flight feathers, and reduced superciliary.

Status: The White-browed Ground-Tyrant is an uncommon Austral migrant to the high Andes at elevations ranging between 2900-4200 m. It is expected in Peru during the months of April through October. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Dormilona de Ceja Blanca.

Sub-species: White-browed Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola albilora), Lafresnaye, 1855.

Meaning of Name: Muscisaxicola: From the genus Muscicapa Brisson 1760 (flycatcher), and genus Saxicola (wheatear Oenanthe). albilora: L. albus= white and loris, lorum= lores, lore.

See more of the Family Tyrannidae