Paramo Ground Tyrant
Muscisaxicola alpinus
The Paramo Ground Tyrant (Muscisaxicola alpinus) is a rare tyrant flycatcher found in 2 countries, weighing about 26 g. The paramo ground tyrant, more widely known as the plain-capped ground-tyrant, is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.
About the Paramo Ground Tyrant
The paramo ground tyrant, more widely known as the plain-capped ground-tyrant, is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and possibly Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The paramo ground tyrant is 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a sepia-brown crown, dusky lores, a wide white supercilium that extends past the eye, and a small white patch below the eye. Their nape and back are grayish brown. Their wings are a duskier grayish brown with some pale edges on the coverts. Their tail is blackish with thin white edges on the outermost feathers. Their underparts are grayish white that is darker on the breast than on the throat and belly. Voice: As of April 2025 xeno-canto had 10 recordings of ochre-naped ground tyrant vocalizations. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library had only three, all of which are also on xeno-canto. The species is "enerally quiet, though occasionally gives a soft tik note".
Where it lives
When to see it
The Paramo Ground Tyrant can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Paramo Ground Tyrant?
- The paramo ground tyrant is 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Paramo Ground Tyrant?
- The Paramo Ground Tyrant is a small sized bird weighing about 26 g.
- Where can you see a Paramo Ground Tyrant?
- The Paramo Ground Tyrant occurs in 2 countries, including Ecuador and Colombia.
- What birds look similar to a Paramo Ground Tyrant?
- The Paramo Ground Tyrant is most easily confused with the Ochre-naped Ground Tyrant, the Cinnamon-bellied Ground Tyrant and the Puna Ground Tyrant.
- Is the Paramo Ground Tyrant endangered?
- The Paramo Ground Tyrant is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Paramo Ground Tyrant for real
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