Brown-capped tyrannulet

The brown-capped tyrannulet (Ornithion brunneicapillus) is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela^[2] and reported for the first time in Nicaragua in 2011.^[3]

Brown-capped tyrannulet
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Tyrannidae
Genus:	Ornithion
Species:	O. brunneicapillus
Binomial name
Ornithion brunneicapillus (Lawrence, 1862)

Taxonomy and systematics

The brown-capped tyrannulet and the yellow-bellied tyrannulet (O. semiflavum) were for a time considered to be conspecific and now are deemed a superspecies.^[4][5] Both are now monotypic.^[2]

Description

The brown-capped tyrannulet is about 8 cm (3.1 in) long and weighs about 7 to 8 g (0.25 to 0.28 oz). It is a small flycatcher with a pointed bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a brownish olive to dark brown crown with a white forehead, lores, and supercilium on an otherwise olive face. Their upperparts are olive. Their wings and tail are dusky olive. Their underparts are bright yellow with faint olive streaks on the breast and flanks. Both sexes have a brown iris, a black bill with an arched maxilla, and dark gray legs and feet. Juveniles have a more olive crown, a less distinct supercilium, paler tips on the wing coverts, and paler yellow underparts than adults.^{[4][6][7][8][9][10][excessive citations]}

Distribution and habitat

The brown-capped tyrannulet is found in far southern Nicaragua,^[3] along the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica and to central Panama, on both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes from central Panama to Colombia, then south on the Pacific slope through Colombia and to Ecuador's El Oro Province. It also occurs locally from northeastern Colombia into northwestern Venezuela and separately in northern Venezuela. The species inhabits the tropical and lower subtropical zones, primarily in the interior and edges of humid evergreen forest, mature secondary forest, semi-open woodlands, and coffee plantations. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 900 m (3,000 ft) in Costa Rica, to 750 m (2,500 ft) in Panama, to 1,300 m (4,300 ft) in Colombia, to 400 m (1,300 ft) in Ecuador, and to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in Venezuela.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][excessive citations]}

Behavior

Movement

The brown-capped tyrannulet is a year-round resident throughout its range.^[4][5]

Feeding

The brown-capped tyrannulet's behavior is much like that of a warbler (Parulidae) or vireo (Vireonidae). It feeds almost exclusively on arthropods. It usually forages singly or in pairs, and from the forest's mid-level to the canopy but lower on its edges. It often joins mixed-species feeding flocks. It takes most prey by gleaning from leaves, twigs, and stems while perched.^{[4][7][8][9][10][excessive citations]}

Breeding

The brown-capped tyrannulet breeds between January and August. Its nest is "an untidy flat saucer" made from twigs, leaf petioles, and bark, and typically in a branch fork between about 3.5 and 12 m (10 and 40 ft) above the ground. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.^[4][10]

Songs and calls Listen to the brown-capped tyrannulet on xeno-canto

Vocalization

The brown-capped tyrannulet's primary vocalization is a "[s]eries of 4–6 high metallic or piping whistles, each slightly downward-slurred, slight pause after first note, 'pee, pey-pey-pew' ". It also makes a "single high-pitched 'peeep' ".^[4]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the brown-capped tyrannulet as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its estimated population of at least 500,000 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.^[1] It is considered uncommon to fairly common across its range and occurs in several protected areas.^[4][7][8]

References

1. BirdLife International (2022). "Brown-capped Tyrannulet Ornithion brunneicapillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T22699166A138122815. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T22699166A138122815.en. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
2. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Tyrant flycatchers". IOC World Bird List. v 14.2. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
3. Sandoval, L., and W. J. Arendt (2011). Two new species for Nicaragua and other notes on the avifauna of the Atlantic Region and Paso del Istmo Biological Corridor. Cotinga 33:50–57.
4. Fitzpatrick, J. W. (2020). Brown-capped Tyrannulet (Ornithion brunneicapillus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.brctyr.01 retrieved October 3, 2024
5. Check-list of North American Birds (7th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Ornithologists' Union. 1998. p. 373.
6. vanPerlo, Ber (2006). Birds of Mexico and Central America. Princeton Illustrated Checklists. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. pp. Plate 64, map 64.5. ISBN 0691120706.
7. Garrigues, Richard; Dean, Robert (2007). The Birds of Costa Rica. Ithaca: Zona Tropical/Comstock/Cornell University Press. pp. 188–189. ISBN 978-0-8014-7373-9.
8. McMullan, Miles; Donegan, Thomas M.; Quevedo, Alonso (2010). Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Bogotá: Fundación ProAves. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-9827615-0-2.
9. Ridgely, Robert S.; Greenfield, Paul J. (2001). The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide. Vol. II. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. p. 459. ISBN 978-0-8014-8721-7.
10. Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela (second ed.). Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 566.