The kinglet calyptura is a small Critically Endangered passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is endemic to southeastern Brazil.
Region
Southeastern Brazil, Atlantic Forest
Typical Environment
Endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro and adjacent areas of southeastern Brazil, historically from low to montane evergreen forest. It is associated with mature or well-regenerated forest, often where epiphytes, bromeliads, and moss-laden branches are abundant. Observations suggest use of mid- to upper-canopy strata and edges near intact forest. Records are extremely few and localized, with long periods without confirmed sightings.
Altitude Range
200–1200 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The kinglet calyptura is one of the most elusive Neotropical passerines and went unrecorded for more than a century before brief rediscoveries in the 1990s. It is the only member of its genus and is known from very few modern observations. Its survival likely depends on remnant tracts of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, making habitat protection crucial.
Pardalotus cristatus illustrated by Georges Cuvier
Temperament
elusive and cryptic
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs and occasionally within mixed-species canopy flocks. Nesting habits are poorly known, but it likely builds a small cup nest typical of many tyrant flycatchers. Breeding phenology remains largely undocumented due to the scarcity of observations.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are poorly documented; reports mention thin, high-pitched calls. Any song is likely soft and inconspicuous, aiding its ability to go undetected in dense foliage.
