Short-tailed Field Tyrant

About the Short-tailed Field Tyrant

The short-tailed field tyrant (Muscigralla brevicauda) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Ecuador, Peru, and as a vagrant to Chile and Colombia. The short-tailed field tyrant was originally described in 1837 as the type specimen for genus Muscigralla. Since its description, some authors have questioned the status of that genus. Some merged it into Muscisaxicola. However, early twenty-first century studies confirmed genus Muscigralla and found that it is not closely related to Muscisaxicola. Some questions remain about its exact affinities.

The short-tailed field tyrant is the only member of its genus and has no subspecies. The short-tailed field tyrant is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long; two individuals weighed 13.5 and 11.8 g (0.48 and 0.42 oz). It has very long legs and a very short tail. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a brownish gray head with a short white patch above the lores and a mostly hidden yellow patch in the center of the crown. Their upperparts are mostly brownish gray with a buffy upper rump and rufous chestnut lower rump and uppertail coverts. Their wings... Wikipedia →