The black-throated tody-tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Andes of Venezuela through Colombia and Ecuador to Peru and northern Bolivia. It inhabits humid montane and cloud forests, especially dense undergrowth and bamboo thickets. The species favors forest edges, secondary growth, and ravines with tangled vegetation. It forages close to the ground to mid-levels, typically within shaded, moist microhabitats.
Altitude Range
800–2500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This tiny Andean flycatcher keeps to the dim understory, where its distinctive black throat stands out against olive plumage. It often associates with bamboo (especially Chusquea) and responds to pishing, popping into view briefly before slipping back into cover. Its song is a thin, insect-like series of high notes that can be easy to miss among forest sounds. Despite its small size, it is quite territorial during the breeding season.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief sallies
Social Behavior
Usually seen alone or in pairs, occasionally accompanying mixed-species flocks in the understory. Pairs maintain small territories and communicate with soft calls. Nesting is believed to involve a domed or ball-shaped structure placed low in dense vegetation, typical of small tody-tyrants.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Delivers thin, high-pitched whistles and short trills, often insect-like and easily overlooked. Calls include soft tsip or seep notes given from concealed perches.
