The Amazonian inezia, or Amazonian tyrannulet, is a species of passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Region
Amazon Basin and upper Orinoco
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland Amazonia of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, especially along major white-water rivers. It is strongly associated with river islands, sandbars, and seasonally flooded river-edge scrub (várzea). The species prefers young secondary growth with cane, willows, Tessaria, and Cecropia stands. It forages from the understory to midstory in dense thickets and along edges. Often found near open water but keeps to cover.
Altitude Range
0–600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Amazonian inezia, also called the Amazonian tyrannulet, is a tiny river-island specialist of the Amazon and upper Orinoco systems. It favors early successional scrub on riverbanks and islands, where it creeps through dense foliage flicking its wings and tail. It is best separated from similar tyrannulets by its pale-tipped wings and tail and its high, thin, sibilant calls. Vocalizations are key to identification in the field.
Temperament
furtive and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief dashes between cover
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups moving methodically through dense riverside scrub. Occasionally joins mixed-species flocks of small insectivores along river edges. Nests are small and placed low in dense vegetation near water; both parents likely participate in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives high, thin, sibilant notes and short trills, often a rapid tseet-tseet or seee-seee series. Calls are soft but persistent and are often the best clue to its presence within thick cover.
Plumage
Small, slim tyrannulet with dull olive to gray-olive upperparts and yellowish to yellow-washed underparts; feathers often show pale tips giving a subtly frosted look. Wings show narrow pale edging and faint wingbars; tail feathers with pale tips. Throat whitish and face rather plain with a faint, diffuse supercilium.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small insects and other arthropods gleaned from leaves and fine twigs. Employs hover-gleaning and short sallies to snatch prey from foliage. It methodically works through dense scrub, often near the outer edges where new growth is abundant.
Preferred Environment
Forages in early successional riverine vegetation, including willow thickets, Tessaria scrub, cane stands, and young Cecropia groves. Most activity occurs in the understory to midstory along riverbanks and island margins.
