Black-crested Tit-Tyrant
Anairetes nigrocristatus
Beautiful little flycatcher with a spiky crest found in the Andes of northern Peru, just barely reaching over the border into southern Ecuador. Male is quite distinctive with a solid black face, black-and-white streaking, and a long crest that sticks up in front of its white crown. Female and immature are grayer with less contrasting plumage and shorter crest; the orange bill might lead to confusion with Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, but Black-crested lacks brown on the back and yellow on the belly. Very similar to Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, but Black-crested has broader white tips to the tail; also note its more northern range. Inhabits scrub and light woodland, often giving squeaks and rapid trills.
Taxonomy
The black-crested tit-tyrant's genus, Anairetes, is believed to be most closely related to the genera Mecocerculus and Serpophaga; however, there is no definitive evidence supporting this claim. Members of the genus Anairetes are known commonly as tit-tyrants because their active foraging behavior and crests are reminiscent of the true tits in the family Paridae.
- Scientific name
- Anairetes nigrocristatus
- Authority
- Taczanowski, 1884
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Anairetes
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Melanocorypha mongolica
A large, brightly-colored lark of grassy steppe; often found near lakes and wet meadows. Brown overall with cinnamon tinges to the crown and shoulders, a down-curved white eyebrow, and a blotchy black collar that breaks at the throat. Highly distinctive in flight: black-and-white wing pattern is reminiscent of certain lapwings and plovers, and visible from a great distance. Usually seen singly.
Maguari Stork
Ciconia maguari
Unmistakable species given its size, very long bill, and red legs. Its black flight feathers and tail contrast with its largely white body, resembling European White Stork. Note the bare red face and piercing yellow eyes. Mostly found in open wetland areas including swamps, pastures, rice fields, and mudflats.
Gray Wagtail
Motacilla cinerea
Handsome long-tailed bird. Breeding male has a black throat, mostly yellow underparts. Breeding female often has some dark on the throat, paler yellow underparts. All plumages have gray head and back, with whitish eyebrow, bright yellow belly and vent. Often near flowing water with nearby rocks or surrogate rocky habitat, from mountain streams to weirs in suburban parklands. Walks quietly along shorelines or in nearby open areas, pumping its very long, white-sided tail up and down. Song is a repetitive series of high-pitched notes; calls include short, high “pseet” and buzzier flight calls.
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