Many-colored Rush Tyrant
Tachuris rubrigastra
Attractive, multicolored little bird of fresh and brackish marshes with rushes and reed beds; known in some areas as siete colores (seven colors). Feeds actively in rushes and adjacent vegetation, sometimes on adjacent muddy shorelines. Boldly patterned and colorful plumage is unique among flycatchers and should not be confused if seen well; note the bold white wingband and white tail sides, which show distinctly in flight.
Identification
The many-colored rush tyrant is a small bird, 11–11.5 cm (4.3–4.5 in) in length. As the bird's name suggests, the plumage is very colourful. The back and rump are green while the underparts are yellow apart from the white throat, black breastband and red undertail-coverts. The face is dark blue-grey, there is a yellow stripe over the eye and the crown is dark with a red patch that is often concealed. The wings and tail are dark with a white wingbar and white outer tail-feathers. Females are duller than the males.
Taxonomy
A 2013 DNA-based study of South American suboscines found that the many-colored rush tyrant belonged to an isolated lineage that had been separated from other suboscines for around 25 million years. The authors proposed that it would be better placed in its own monotypic family Tachurididae. It was subsequently suggested that the name should be Tachurisidae. The placement in a separate family was followed by Edward Dickinson and Leslie Christidis in the fourth edition of the Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, but has not yet been adopted by other authorities.<p>Four subspecies are recognised. The nominate T. r. rubrigastra is the most widespread, occurring from south-east Brazil to southern Argentina and central Chile, T. r. alticola is found in the Andes of south-east Peru, west Bolivia and north-west Argentina, T. r. libertatis is found in coastal Peru while T. r. loaensis is restricted to Antofagasta Region in northern Chile.
- Scientific name
- Tachuris rubrigastra
- Authority
- (Vieillot, 1817)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Genus
- Tachuris
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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A chunky, large-headed bird of open areas, usually found perched on wires or flying around in search of insects. Soft gunmetal gray with white underparts. Often found pressed together in pairs or tight groups when at rest. Sometimes flies in the same areas as swallows and swifts, but has a much thicker build, with triangular, somewhat starling-like wings. The only woodswallow throughout most of its range. Song is a somewhat myna-like series of sweet warbling and harsh chattering. Also gives nasal scolding “nyeh”, comparable to a jay or treepie.
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