The Andean negrito is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs along high Andean plateaus and valleys of Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina. It favors the margins of shallow lakes, saline lagoons, and wet puna grasslands with cushion bogs. Birds perch on stones, low posts, or clumps of grass near open water and muddy shorelines. It tolerates cold, windy conditions and thin air typical of the Altiplano. Local movements may track water availability and insect abundance.
Altitude Range
3000–4700 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Andean negrito is a high-altitude flycatcher that frequents windswept shorelines of Andean lakes and bofedales (cushion bogs). Males are strikingly dark with a rufous back patch that flashes in flight, while females are cryptic brown. It often forages by making short sallies from low rocks or sedge tussocks, picking insects from the air or water’s edge. Some populations make local altitudinal movements as conditions change seasonally.
Temperament
alert and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with low, bounding flights; occasional brief hovering when sallying
Social Behavior
Often seen singly or in pairs during the breeding season; small loose groups may form around rich feeding spots. Nests are placed low in grasses or bog vegetation near water. Likely monogamous, with the male displaying from prominent low perches. Territorial behavior increases during breeding.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are thin, high-pitched chips and short twittering phrases. Males give simple trills and sharp calls from exposed perches, especially at dawn and dusk.
