Yellow tyrannulet

Species of bird

Yellow tyrannulet
In Costa Rica
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Capsiempis
Cabanis & Heine, 1860
Species:
C. flaveola
Binomial name
Capsiempis flaveola
(Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
Subspecies
  • C. flaveola flaveola
  • C. flaveola semiflava
  • C. flaveola leucophrys
  • C. flaveola cerulus
  • C. flaveola amazonus
  • C. flaveola magnirostris

The yellow tyrannulet (Capsiempis flaveola) is a very small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It breeds from Nicaragua south to northeastern Argentina and southeastern Brazil. It is the only member of the genus Capsiempis, but its taxonomy is uncertain, and it has been allocated to at least three other genera in the past.

This species is found in thickets, forest and streamside edges, dense second growth, and bushy pastures or clearings. The cup nest is made of plant fibre and grass blades, decorated outside with moss. It is placed 2–7 m high in a tree, shrub, or maize plant. The typical clutch is two white eggs, usually unmarked or with very light rufous speckles.

Description

The yellow tyrannulet is 10.5-11.4 cm long, weighs 8 g, and with its slender build and small bill resembles a tiny vireo or warbler. Its upperparts are olive-green and the underparts are bright yellow. The head has whitish or pale yellow supercilia. The wings and tail are dusky brown with weak yellow feather-edging, and there are two yellowish wing bars. Sexes are similar, but young birds are browner above and paler yellow below. The call is a soft pewik and the duetted song is a rhythmic pee-tic-keek. There is some geographical variation in both appearance and vocalisation.

Diet

Yellow tyrannulets are active birds, seen in pairs or family groups feeding on insects, spiders and small berries. The prey is gleaned from foliage or taken in short sallies.

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Capsiempis flaveola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22699194A118642805. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22699194A118642805.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.

Further reading

  • Skutch, Alexander F. (1960). "Yellow flycatcher" (PDF). Life Histories of Central American Birds II. Pacific Coast Avifauna, Number 34. Berkeley, California: Cooper Ornithological Society. pp. 319–321.

External links

  • Yellow tyrannulet photos on antpitta.com
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Genera of passerines and their extinct allies
incertae sedis
Acanthisitti
Acanthisittidae
Eupasseres
Tyranni
Eurylaimides
Calyptomenidae
Eurylaimidae
Philepittidae
Pittidae
Sapayoidae
Tyranni
    • See below ↓
Passeri
    • See below ↓
Traversia lyalli
Conopophagidae
Cotingidae
Formicariidae
Furnariidae
Sclerurinae
Dendrocolaptinae
Dendrocolaptini
Sittasomini
Furnariinae
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Philydorini
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Grallariidae
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Euchrepomidinae
Myrmornithinae
Thamnophilinae
Formicivorini
Microrhopiini
Pithyini
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Tityridae
Tyrannidae
Acanthizidae
Atrichornithidae
Callaeidae
Climacteridae
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Dasyornithidae
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Amytornithinae
Malurinae
Malurini
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Palaeoscinidae
Pardalotidae
Pomatostomidae
Ptilonorhynchidae
Corvides
    • See Corvides
Passerida
    • See Passerida
Taxon identifiers
Capsiempis flaveola
Capsiempis
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