Mottle-cheeked tyrannulet

Phylloscartes ventralis

Photo by Cláudio Timm (Flickr)

Common name:
mottle-cheeked tyrannulet (en); borboletinha-do-mato (pt); tyranneau ventru (fr); orejerito oliváceo (es); olivgelb-laubtyrann (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Tyrannidae

Range:
This South American species is found in two disjunct populations. One population occurs in south-eastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and marginally into north-eastern Argentina, the other in found along the eastern slopes of the Andes, from northern Argentina to northern Peru.

Size:
These birds are 12 cm long and weigh 8 g.

Habitat:
The mottle-cheeked tyrannulet is mostly found in moist, tropical mountain forests, but also in tropical moist forest at lower altitudes and temperate forests. They are present at altitudes of 1.000-2.300 m.

Diet:
They feed on various insects and possibly also other small invertebrates.

Breeding:
Mottle-cheeked tyrannulets nest in a closed pouch-like nest with a circular entrance. There the female lays 3 eggs which are incubated for 18 days. There is no information regarding the length of the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.