The buff-breasted tody-tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is endemic to Brazil.
Region
Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil
Typical Environment
Primarily inhabits the humid Atlantic Forest and adjacent secondary growth, favoring dense understory, forest edges, and thickets along streams. It is most often found in vine tangles and bamboo or sapling thickets where it forages quietly. The species tolerates some disturbance and can occur in well-structured secondary forest, but it depends on forest cover. Fragmentation reduces its occurrence in small, isolated patches.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny member of the tyrant flycatchers, the buff-breasted tody-tyrant is a furtive understory bird of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Its warm buff breast and delicate wingbars help distinguish it from other small greenish flycatchers. It often joins mixed-species flocks but can be hard to spot as it creeps through vine tangles. Ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation in the Atlantic Forest likely affect local populations.
Temperament
secretive and methodical
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs within territories, but frequently associates with mixed-species flocks in the understory. Nests are placed low, often in dense vegetation or vine tangles. Both parents likely participate in caring for young. Territorial songs and calls are used to maintain space in dense habitats.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of thin, high-pitched notes and soft trills delivered at a measured pace, often repeated from a low perch. Calls include faint chips and buzzy notes that can be hard to locate in dense cover.
