Shear-tailed Gray Tyrant
NameShear-tailed Gray Tyrant
Common NameShear-tailed Gray Tyrant
Scientific NameMuscipipra vetula
FamilyTyrannidae
Wingspan (cm)21
Length (cm)19
Weight (g)17
Plumage DetailsOverall plumage is a soft gray, slightly darker on the back, wings, and deeply forked tail, and paler on the underparts. The head is also gray, with a small, dark eye and a slender, pointed black bill.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalizations typically consist of thin, high-pitched, sibilant notes, often described as a 'tsee-tsee-tsee' or 'swee-swee-swee' call.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the Andes mountains of South America, ranging from Venezuela and Colombia south through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It inhabits humid montane forests, forest edges, clearings, and secondary growth, typically at elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 meters.
Identifying Featureslong, deeply forked tail, overall gray plumage, slender body, upright perching posture, small, pointed bill
Description
The Shear-tailed Gray Tyrant is a slender, long-tailed flycatcher with an elegant, upright posture. It typically perches conspicuously on exposed branches, sallying out to catch insects in flight. Its distinctive deeply forked tail is a key identifying feature.
