Rufous-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant

About the Rufous-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant

The fulvous-crowned scrub tyrant, or tawny-crowned pygmy-tyrant, (Euscarthmus meloryphus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

The fulvous-crowned scrub tyrant has two subspecies, the nominate E. m. meloryphus (Wied, 1831) and E. m. paulus (Bangs, 1899). What is now the fulvous-faced scrub tyrant (E. fulviceps) was previously a third subspecies; the full species at that time was called the tawny-crowned pygmy tyrant. Following the split most taxonomic systems gave E. meloryphus sensu stricto its present common name to avoid confusion with the pre-split species and other, unrelated, species called "pygmy tyrants". However, as of late 2024 BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World retains the original common name.

The fulvous-crowned scrub tyrant is 9 to 12 cm (3.5 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 5 to 10 g (0.18 to 0.35 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a drab brownish crown with a weak crest and rufous central crown feathers that are somewhat hidden. They... Wikipedia →