The black-crested tit-tyrant or Marañón tit-tyrant is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs mainly in the dry inter-Andean valleys of northern Peru and southern Ecuador, especially along the Marañón drainage. It favors arid to semi-arid scrub, open woodland, cactus-studded slopes, and brushy ravines. Birds often use the mid to upper shrub layer and edges of dry forest patches. It adapts to degraded scrub and hedgerows where some native shrub cover remains.
Altitude Range
800–3000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Marañón tit-tyrant, this tiny tyrant flycatcher sports a distinctive spiky black crest that it raises when excited. It is an energetic foliage-gleaner that often joins mixed-species flocks in dry inter-Andean valleys of Ecuador and Peru. Like other tit-tyrants, it forages by short sallies and hover-gleans insects from shrubs.
Temperament
active and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with frequent short sallies
Social Behavior
Often found in pairs or small family groups and readily joins mixed-species flocks. Territorial during breeding, with a small cup nest placed low to mid-height in shrubs. Both parents typically participate in care of the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Delivers a series of thin, high-pitched trills and twittering phrases interspersed with sharp chips. Calls are quick and buzzy, often given while moving actively through shrubs.
Plumage
Small, compact flycatcher with a conspicuous spiky black crest, gray to olive-gray upperparts, and paler underparts with subtle streaking on the breast. Shows contrasting pale wing bars and a crisp facial pattern with a whitish eyebrow and throat.
Diet
Primarily small insects and other arthropods such as beetles, flies, and spiders. Forages by gleaning from leaves and twigs, hover-gleaning at the tips of shrubs, and making short sallies to snatch prey. May occasionally take tiny berries when insects are scarce.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the mid to upper levels of arid scrub, open woodland edges, and brushy ravines. Frequently works along hedgerows and ecotones where shrubs are dense.
