The flammulated bamboo tyrant, also called flammulated pygmy-tyrant, is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru.
Region
Western Amazonia and Andean foothills
Typical Environment
Occurs in southeastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and far western Brazil (Acre), mainly in humid foothill and lowland forests where bamboo (especially Guadua) dominates the understory. Prefers edges of terra firme and floodplain forests, riverine corridors, and secondary growth with dense bamboo. Typically forages from near ground level up to the mid-understory. Often associated with bamboo die-off and regrowth cycles, shifting locally as stands mature.
Altitude Range
200–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A bamboo specialist of the western Amazon and Andean foothills, it keeps low in dense Guadua thickets where it is more often heard than seen. Its soft, high-pitched series of notes can sound ventriloquial in thick cover. The species’ dependence on patchy bamboo stands makes it sensitive to local habitat changes, though it remains widespread overall.
Temperament
skulking and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with brief, low sallies
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, keeping to dense bamboo tangles. Frequently joins mixed-species understory flocks but remains low and inconspicuous. Nests are believed to be small cup structures placed low in bamboo, with pairs defending small territories during breeding.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A thin, high-pitched series of tsip and tsee notes, sometimes accelerating into a short trill. Song carries poorly and can be ventriloquial, making the bird difficult to locate in dense cover.
