About the Cattle Tyrant
The cattle tyrant is a species of bird in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. In Brazil, it is called suiriri-cavaleiro. It is the only member of the genus Machetornis. The relationships of this species and genus to other genera in the tyrant flycatchers are uncertain. It resembles Tyrannus flycatchers, but this may be the result of convergence.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The cattle tyrant is a highly terrestrial tyrant flycatcher, 19.5–20 cm (7.7–7.9 in) long and weighing 29–40 g (1.0–1.4 oz). The plumage of the nominate subspecies is mostly olive-brown above and yellow below, with a grey head with a thin dark eyestripe and a paler, whitish throat. The thin bill and legs are black. The two other subspecies differ from the nominate in having the head less grey, more like the olive-brown of the back, and a yellower throat.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Peru.
When to see it
Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Hammond's FlycatcherEmpidonax hammondiiAdults are 12–14 cm long (4.7–5.5 in), span about 22 cm (8.7 in) across the wing and weigh 8–12 g (0.3–04 oz).
Streaked FlycatcherMyiodynastes maculatusThe streaked flycatcher is 20.5 to 23 cm (8.1 to 9.1 in) long and weighs 36.5 to 50 g (1.3 to 1.8 oz).
Southern Beardless TyrannuletCamptostoma obsoletumThe southern beardless tyrannulet is 9.5 to 10.5 cm (3.7 to 4.1 in) long and weighs 7 to 9 g (0.25 to 0.32 oz).
Side by side: Cattle Tyrant vs Hammond's Flycatcher · Cattle Tyrant vs Streaked Flycatcher · Cattle Tyrant vs Southern Beardless Tyrannulet
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