Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Lophotriccus pileatus

Least ConcernUncommonInvertebratesForestDomed nestTiny · 7 g

About the Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

The scale-crested pygmy tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, native to the American Cordillera.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The scale-crested pygmy tyrant is 8 to 10 cm (3.1 to 3.9 in) long and weighs about 7 to 8 g (0.25 to 0.28 oz). It has long crown feathers that form the eponymous crest and that it sometimes erects and fans. Females have a smaller crest than males but the sexes otherwise have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies L. p. pileatus have a black crest with rufous edges on the feathers. They have whitish lores on an otherwise brownish face. Their back, rump, and uppertail coverts are olive. Voice: The scale-crested pygmy tyrant's main vocalization is a very loud trill that differs somewhat geographically. It has been written as "tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr-tr" and "trrrrrreét", "dzzeeer-dzeer-dzeer", and "cre'e'e'e'e, k'e'e'e'e". It also makes "a series of sharp "preek" notes, sometimes widely spaced".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in Honduras.

When to see it

Peak activity in March · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Side by side: Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant vs Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet · Cinnamon Flycatcher vs Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant

Learn the Scale-crested Pygmy Tyrant for real

BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.

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