Yellow Tyrannulet

Capsiempis flaveola

Least ConcernUncommonInvertebratesForestCup nestTiny · 8 g

About the Yellow Tyrannulet

The yellow tyrannulet is a small passerine bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, and in every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay.

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

ID tip

The yellow tyrannulet is 10 to 11.5 cm (3.9 to 4.5 in) long and weighs about 8 grams (0.28 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies C. f. flaveola have a dark yellowish olive crown with a somewhat bushy crest. They have a bright yellow supercilium, a bright yellow partial eye ring, and a dark line through the eye on an otherwise yellowish face. Their upperparts are dark yellowish olive. Voice: The yellow tyrannulet is very vocal; its songs vary across its wide range and often include duets. In Costa Rica it sings a "sputtering series of wheep or wee-deep notes". In Ecuador the song is described as "a pleasant and rollicking series of notes that often seem to lack much pattern, usually starting slowly but then quickly speeding up".

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

What the Yellow Tyrannulet sounds like

Recording: Niels Krabbe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · CC0 · via xeno-canto
Recording: Rosa Elena Albornoz @rosaelena_naturaleza · CC0 · via xeno-canto

Where it lives

Regular range

When to see it

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

Easily confused with

Learn the Yellow Tyrannulet 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.

Play BeakBrain

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.