| Rufous-sided scrub tyrant | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Tyrannidae |
| Genus: | Euscarthmus |
| Species: | E. rufomarginatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Euscarthmus rufomarginatus (Pelzeln, 1868) | |
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The rufous-sided scrub tyrant, or rufous-sided pygmy-tyrant, (Euscarthmus rufomarginatus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Suriname. [2]
Taxonomists previously called the rufous-sided scrub tyrant the "rufous-sided pygmy tyrant or pygmy-tyrant". Beginning in 2021 most systems changed the common names of all three Euscarthmus species to scrub tyrant (or scrub-tyrant) to avoid confusion with other, unrelated, species called "pygmy tyrants". [2] [3] [4] However, as of late 2024 BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World retains the "pygmy-tyrant" common name for it. [5]
The rufous-sided scrub tyrant is 9.0 to 11.5 cm (3.5 to 4.5 in) long and weighs about 6 g (0.21 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a brown crown with a small cinnamon-rufous central patch that is somewhat hidden. They have a whitish supercilium and eye-ring on an otherwise light brown face. Their upperparts are brown. Their wings are a darker brown than the upperparts with ocraceous tips on the coverts that show as two wing bars; the inner flight feathers have thin ochraceous edges. Their tail is dusky with ochraceous edges on the feathers. Their throat is white and the rest of their underparts mostly pale yellow; the sides of their breast, flanks, and undertail coverts are deep warm ochraceous buff. Both sexes have a chestnut-brown iris, a brownish black maxilla, a pinkish mandible, pinkish gray legs, and gray feet. [6] [7] [8]
The rufous-sided scrub tyrant has one main range and is also known from several smaller separate locations. Its main range is in Brazil in an area roughly bounded by Amapá, central Bahia, northern São Paulo, and Mato Grosso do Sul and extending into extreme northeastern Paraguay and northern and eastern Bolivia. It also occurs locally in a few areas in the Amazon Basin of Brazil and one in southern Suriname. It inhabits unaltered campos rupestres , cerrado , and savanna with shrubs and bushes. In elevation it ranges from near sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in Brazil; in Bolivia it has been recorded between 150 and 750 m (500 and 2,500 ft). [6] [7] [8]
The rufous-sided scrub tyrant is a year-round resident. [6]
The rufous-sided scrub tyrant's diet has not been detailed but is known to be mostly arthropods and also includes significant amounts of small fruits. It forages very low to the ground in grass and low shrubs and also occasionally on the ground. [6]
The rufous-sided scrub tyrant's breeding season appears to conclude in January but nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology. [6]
The rufous-sided scrub tyrant's principle vocalization is a "sustained, toneless, fast, dry rattling 'pe-tit-rrut- -' or 'tit-tit-=tit-rrrut' ('tit-tit' staccato)". [7] It also makes buzzy trilled alarm calls and a "higher, more squeaky rattling chatter; or a screeching, strained clee-clee, also in [a] longer series". [6]
The IUCN originally in 1994 assessed the rufous-sided scrub tyrant as Vulnerable, then in 2004 as Near Threatened, and since July 2024 as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. "The species likely used to be more widespread, but is restricted to specific habitat within the Cerrado biome, open humid grassy habitats, which are easily converted to agriculture. It is thought to be undergoing slow declines as a consequence of the ongoing conversion and degradation of its grassland habitat...Habitat loss in the cerrado is probably the major factor explaining its current rarity." [1] It is considered rare and local overall but is more common in a few locations in southern Suriname and northern Bolivia. [6]
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The rufous-sided crake is a species of bird in subfamily Rallinae of family Rallidae, the rails, gallinules, and coots. It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile.
The lesser elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, on Trinidad, in every mainland South American country except Chile and Uruguay, and as a vagrant on Bonaire and Curaçao.
The rufous-crowned elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The fulvous-crowned scrub tyrant, or tawny-crowned pygmy-tyrant, 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 rufous-faced antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
The white-throated tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The long-winged antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The ornate stipplethroat, formerly called the ornate antwren, is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
The rufous-fronted thornbird, or common thornbird, is a species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is found in Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru.
The southern mouse-colored tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and possibly French Guiana and Suriname.
The rufous-tailed foliage-gleaner is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, and possibly French Guiana.
The bearded tachuri is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
The rufous-headed pygmy tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru with at least one record in Venezuela.
The hazel-fronted pygmy tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
The Bolivian recurvebill is a bird species in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
The ochre-cheeked spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.
The striped woodcreeper is a species of bird in the subfamily Dendrocolaptinae of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The fulvous-faced scrub tyrant, or tawny-fronted pygmy-tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Colombia.
