Cattle Tyrant
Machetornis rixosa
Medium sized flycatcher with fairly widespread range in South America. Superficially resembles a Tropical Kingbird with olive-brown back, yellow belly, and grayish crown. However, Cattle Tyrant is unique for typically being found on or near the ground, where pairs or small flocks follow grazing animals. Found in open habitats including farmland and marshes.
Identification
The cattle tyrant is a highly terrestrial tyrant-flycatcher, 20 cm (7.9 in) long and weighing 29–40 g (1.0–1.4 oz). The plumage of the nominate subspecies is mostly olive-brown above and yellow below. The head is grey with a thin eyestripe and a white throat. The thin bill and legs are black. The two other subspecies vary from the nominate in having a yellow throat.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Machetornis rixosa
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1819)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Machetornis
Range and habitat
The species has a disjunct distribution, with the nominate race breeding from northern Argentina and Bolivia to the north-eastern tip of Brazil, and the two other subspecies ranging from Panama to Venezuela and eastern Ecuador. The species inhabits drier open and semi-open habitats, and avoided forested and wooded areas. It can be found in savannah, pastureland, parkland, agricultural land and even gardens. Due to deforestation, the species has recently colonized areas where it was previously absent, such as northeast Ecuador.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Cattle tyrants feed on insects, mostly from the ground. It may follow cattle or other large animals for some distance, catching flushed prey, or even hitch rides on these animals, and then snatching flushed prey with a quick sally-flight. It may sometimes hawk for insects from a high perch. The species is sometimes reported to have a cleaning symbiosis with the large mammals it lives with. It takes ticks off mammals only occasionally, but it will sometimes hunt horseflies attempting to land on capybaras.<p>Cattle tyrants build bulky nests or steal the nests of rufous-fronted thornbirds. 3 to 4 eggs are laid and incubated for 14 days. The chicks fledge after 15 days.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina
Boldly patterned thrush is bright rusty-brown above with black spots on the white belly. Smaller than a robin, but larger than Hermit Thrush. Sticks to wooded areas, often hopping on the ground. More often heard than seen: listen for its incredible, flute-like song. Population is declining; winters in Central America.
Socotra Grosbeak
Rhynchostruthus socotranus
Handsome chunky gray-brown finch with a massive dark bill. Blackish hood, white ear-patches, and golden stripes in the dark wings and tail make this an easily recognizable species. Female has a paler, less well-defined hood than the male, and less yellow in the tail. Juvenile is buffier (including ear-patches) and more streaky overall. Singles, pairs and groups (up to 30) are a common endemic resident on Socotra, where it inhabits woodlands, dry scrubby rocky terrain, slopes, and riverbeds. Forages on the ground, as well as in trees, where they occasionally dangle by their feet, like parrots. Can be quite skittish. Song is a pleasant rolling series of sweet notes with an almost thrush-like quality. Call a quick whip-like "weet".
Chestnut-headed Tesia
Cettia castaneocoronata
Adorably round and tailless small ground-dweller; combination of bright white eyering, deep cinnamon-brown head, and yellow throat is unique and unmistakable. Breeds in montane and hill forests, where it prefers densely vegetated wet or damp areas, often in the vicinity of streams and gullies. Winters in scrubby forest and forest edge growth in lower foothills. Forages actively on the ground in deep cover, seldom venturing out into the open. Gives a loud, fluid-sounding “chee-leu-chee-wit,” as well as various sharp and high-pitched calls.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.