Tirano pigmeo de corona leonada

1. Nombre del ave
English name: Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant
Scientific (Latin) name: Euscarthmus meloryphus

2. Aspecto
The Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant is known for its muted color palette and small size. This quaint bird species sports a primarily olive-brown body contrasted by a distinctive tawny crown, thus earning its name. The underparts are a soft yellow, giving the bird an overall warm hue. The wings manifest darker shades and bear two very subtle wing bars. Beak of this Pygmy-Tyrant is black, small and thick, fitting for an insectivore, whereas its eyes are dark in color. Both males and females have a similar appearance with no significant gender-specific markings.

3. Tamaño
The Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant is true to its pygmy name, measuring around just 10 cm (4 inches) in length. This tiny creature weighs only around 8 grams and possesses a wingspan approximately equal to its body length.

4. Hábitat y distribución
The natural habitat for this species ranges in the subtropical or tropical dry forests, moist montane forests, and heavily degraded former forest areas. The Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant’s geographical regions include Central and South America, particularly within countries like Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Uruguay.

5. Datos de interés
– Despite being tiny, the Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant is known for aggressive defense of their territory when threatened.
– The Pygmy-Tyrant is aptly named, holding the record as the smallest, most ‘tyrannical’ bird in the Americas.
– While many birds resort to singing to communicate, Pygmy-Tyrants use a variety of clicks, peeps, and chirps!

6. Dieta
As an insectivore, the Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant primarily feeds on small insects. This can include beetles, spiders, and other small arthropods.

7. Comportamiento y sonidos
The bird is rather solitary outside of breeding season and stays in a fixed territory year-round. It is known for an interesting dart-and-pause pattern of flight. Their calls comprise of a rapid series of clicking “pip-pip-pip-pip” sounds and are used for communication.

8. Estado de conservación
As of the most recent evaluation, the IUCN Red List has categorized the Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant as a species of Least Concern due to its wide distribution and large population.

9. Vida útil
The average lifespan of this species is currently unknown, both in the wild and in captivity.

10. Notas adicionales
In parts of Latin America, the Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant is locally known as ‘tirano-pigmeo coronicastano.’ This bird is integral for insect control in their habitats, thus maintaining the balance of the local ecosystem. Although it generally avoids human interaction, the Tawny-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant can adapt and survive in areas of human disturbance and degradation.