The fork-tailed tody-tyrant or fork-tailed pygmy tyrant is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is endemic to Brazil.
Region
Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily in humid Atlantic Forest, favoring dense understory and vine tangles in primary and well-structured secondary forest. It is most often found in forest interiors and along shaded edges, sometimes near bamboo and thickets. The species is sensitive to heavy fragmentation and rarely persists in very small or highly degraded forest fragments. Local presence can be tied to microhabitat structure rather than broad elevation alone.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This tiny flycatcher is confined to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, where it keeps to dense understory tangles. Its deeply notched, almost forked tail gives the species its name and helps with agile maneuvers between vines. Habitat loss and fragmentation have reduced its range, making it a conservation concern. It is often detected by its thin, high-pitched notes rather than by sight.
Temperament
quiet and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between close perches
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs, keeping low and mid-level in the understory. It may join mixed-species flocks briefly but often forages independently. Nests are usually small, well-concealed structures placed in dense vegetation. Breeding behavior involves inconspicuous display and soft vocalizations.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives thin, high-pitched tseet or tsee notes, often delivered in short, irregular series. The song is soft and easily overlooked, helping it remain concealed in dense foliage.
