A bird with yellowish plumage, featuring a gray head, prominent white “headlights,” a brown or rufous tail, and a striking lemon-yellow rump.
The Ornate Flycatcher
The ornate flycatcher (Myiotriccus ornatus) is a captivating species of passerine bird belonging to the Tyrannidae family. Measuring around 12 cm in length, this flycatcher is easily recognizable by its gray head and throat, with a blackish face and crown, complemented by a conspicuous white pre-ocular spot and a yellow stripe on the semi-hidden crown. Its upperparts are dark olive, featuring a bright yellow rump. The breast displays an olive hue, while the belly dazzles in bright yellow. The tail’s appearance varies among the subspecies, with the nominal having a dark brown tail with rufous at the base, the western slope birds sporting a yellow base, and the eastern slope birds donning an all-rufous tail.
The species M. ornatus was first described in 1853 by Frédéric de Lafresnaye under the name Tyrannula ornata. The genus Myiotriccus, to which it belongs, was later defined by the American ornithologist Robert Ridgway in 1905.
The name “Myiotriccus” is derived from the Greek words “muia, muias” meaning fly and “trikkos” referring to a small unidentified bird. In ornithology, “triccus” is associated with the term “tyrant flytrap.” The species name “ornatus” originates from the Latin word for adorned or decorated.
Found in the Andes of northwestern South America, it is the sole member of the monotypic genus Myiotriccus.
The ornate flycatcher’s distribution encompasses the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and the southeast region of Peru, typically residing at elevations between 600 to 2000 meters above sea level. It commonly inhabits the edges of humid tropical and subtropical montane forests, as well as foothills.
These beautiful and elegant birds are often observed in pairs, perching closely to each other on medium to low-height branches near forest clearings or watercourses. From these perches, they make short flights in pursuit of insects. While they seem to remain sedentary and do not join mixed flocks, they do display a close bond when found in pairs.
The ornate flycatcher’s vocalization is characterized by sharp, high-pitched calls like “whoop!” or “beep!” frequently followed by a short chirp.
During March and mid-April (as detailed in the Ornithological Note), the birds construct their nests. In May, birds in breeding condition were observed in Colombia. A nest found in March in Colombia was dome-shaped, skillfully crafted from rootlets, and discreetly positioned 1.3 meters above on a steep earth bank. Inside the nest, there was a single nestling.
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A Black Mask Bordered By A Dazzling Cerulean Crown Makes An Already Outstandingly Conspicuous Bird Stand Out That Much More!
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