| Venezuelan tyrannulet | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Tyrannidae |
| Genus: | Zimmerius |
| Species: | Z. petersi |
| Binomial name | |
| Zimmerius petersi (von Berlepsch, 1907) | |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Venezuelan tyrannulet (Zimmerius petersi) is a species of passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is endemic to Venezuela. [2]
The Venezuelan tyrannulet was originally described as Tyranniscus petersi. [3]
During much of the twentieth century the Venezuelan tyrannulet and several other tyrannulets were placed in genus Tyranniscus but a study published in 1977 erected the present genus Zimmerius for them. [4] [5] It was formerly treated as a subspecies of what was then the paltry tyrannulet (Zimmerius vilissimus sensu lato , now sensu stricto the Guatemalan tyrannulet), and then as a subspecies of the spectacled tyrannulet (Z. improbus) after that species was recognized as separate from the paltry tyrannulet. Following a molecular phylogenetic study published in 2013, taxonomic systems began recognizing the Venezuelan tyrannulet as separate species in 2016 but it took until 2020 to complete the change. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]
The Venezuelan tyrannulet is about 11.5 to 12.5 cm (4.5 to 4.9 in) long and weighs about 10 g (0.35 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a dark slate gray crown. They have a white supercilium that starts at the base of the bill and continues past the eye, a wide white arc under the eye, and gray ear coverts with a black line above them. Their back and rump are olive green. Their wings are mostly dusky; most of the coverts and flight feathers have yellow edges. Their tail is dark gray with yellowish edges on the feathers. Their throat is white. The rest of their underparts are also mostly white, with faint darker streaks on the breast and a yellow wash on the flanks and belly. Adults have a dark brown iris, a black bill, and longish black or dark gray legs and feet. Immature birds have a more olivaceous crown and a duller white supercilium than adults; their flight feathers and tail are brown. [12] [13]
The Venezuelan tyrannulet is found in the Venezuelan Coastal Range between southern Lara and Miranda states. It inhabits the interior and edges of humid forest, more open forest and woodlands, and forest openings with scattered trees. In elevation it ranges from 400 to 2,000 m (1,300 to 6,600 ft). [12] [13]
The Venezuelan tyrannulet is a year-round resident. [13]
The Venezuelan tyrannulet's diet has not been detailed but is known to include insects and fruits. Other species in genus Zimmerius rely heavily on mistletoe (Loranthaceae) fruits but it is not known how important they are to this species. It is an active forager, working singly or in pairs, at all levels of the forest but mostly from the forest mid-story to the canopy. It takes food by gleaning while perched and while briefly hovering after a short flight; it less frequently sallies to take insects in mid-air. It sometimes joins mixed-species feeding flocks. [12] [13]
Nothing is known about the Venezuelan tyrannulet's breeding biology. [12]
During the day the Venezuelan tyrannulet makes "a relatively long, plaintive, slightly descending whistle". No other vocalizations have been described and there are few recordings available at xeno-canto and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library. [12]
The IUCN has assessed the Venezuelan tyrannulet as being of Least Concern. It has a restricted range; its population size is not known and is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. [1] "Venezuelan Tyrannulet is common in a wide variety of forested habitats, and is expected to be stable in human-modified areas." [12]
The Guatemalan tyrannulet, or paltry tyrannulet, is a very small passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
The mistletoe tyrannulet a very small passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found from Guatemala and Belize to Colombia.
The buff-banded tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, 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 sulphur-bellied tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The white-tailed tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, 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 ashy-headed tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The plumbeous-crowned tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Sclater's tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
The tawny-rumped tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and possibly Argentina.
The greenish tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The white-crested tyrannulet is a small species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The lesser wagtail-tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Straneck's tyrannulet, also known as the monte tyrannulet and grey-crowned tyrannulet, is a small species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The Tumbesian tyrannulet or Tumbes tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The white-fronted tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
The spectacled tyrannulet, also known as the specious tyrannulet, mountain tyrannulet, and Venezuelan tyrannulet, is a small passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
The northern mouse-colored tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama, Trinidad, Venezuela, and possibly Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname.
The Maranon tyrannulet or Marañon tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
