The agile tit-tyrant is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs in montane forests and edges from the Andes of Venezuela through Colombia to northern Ecuador. It favors dense understory, especially bamboo (Chusquea) tangles, shrubby clearings, and elfin forest margins. The species uses regenerating secondary growth and roadside thickets as corridors between forest patches. It is typically associated with humid cloud forest zones and adjacent scrub.
Altitude Range
1800–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This tiny Andean flycatcher lives up to its name, flitting acrobatically through bamboo and shrub thickets like a tit. It often builds a compact, domed nest hidden in dense vegetation, especially Chusquea bamboo. Agile tit-tyrants frequently travel in pairs or small family groups and may join mixed-species flocks along forest edges.
Temperament
active and restless
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs or small family groups, often keeping low to mid-levels in dense cover. Frequently participates in mixed-species flocks along forest edges and inside bamboo stands. Nests are compact and well-concealed in dense vegetation, with both parents attending young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives thin, high-pitched trills and sharp chips delivered in short, energetic bursts. Calls often accompany rapid foraging and contact between pair members. Vocalizations can be subdued but are persistent within territories.
