Jelski's chat-tyrant is a species of passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in the montane forests of southern Ecuador and northern to central Peru. It inhabits humid cloud forests, elfin forests, and edges with dense understory, including patches of Chusquea bamboo. Often found along forested ravines, mossy thickets, and secondary growth near primary forest. Prefers areas with abundant perches for flycatching and moderate canopy openings to hunt.
Altitude Range
2200–3600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named for the Polish naturalist Konstanty Jelski, this small Andean flycatcher favors cloud forest edges and stunted elfin woods. It often flicks its tail and makes short sallies to catch insects from low to mid-level perches. Taxonomically it has been placed in Silvicultrix after formerly being included in Ochthoeca.
Temperament
shy and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid sallies from low to mid-level perches
Social Behavior
Typically found singly or in pairs, maintaining small territories within suitable forest edge habitat. During breeding, pairs build a cup or partial-cup nest concealed in banks, mossy cavities, or dense vegetation. Occasionally joins mixed-species flocks while foraging outside the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Delivers thin, high-pitched tseet and tsee-notes, interspersed with short trills. Calls are sharp and slightly buzzy, carrying through dense vegetation but not very loud.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a grayish head and dusky auriculars; underparts yellow to yellow-olive with a paler throat. Often shows a faint buffy supercilium and two subtle, pale wingbars. Flight feathers edged rufous-olive; tail dark with slight rufous tones.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small flying and crawling insects such as flies, beetles, moths, and their larvae. Captures prey by sallying out from a perch and by gleaning from foliage and mossy branches. May hover-glean momentarily to pick insects from leaves and epiphytes.
Preferred Environment
Forages along forest edges, gaps, and along trails or ravines where visibility and access to prey are higher. Uses low to mid-story perches in mossy, humid woodland and elfin forest.
