The rufous-breasted flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid montane and cloud forests of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Venezuela. It favors dense understory, forest edges, mossy ravines, and patches of Chusquea bamboo. Typically stays in shaded mid- to lower-level tangles where it gleans and makes short sallies. It tolerates some secondary growth but prefers mature, moist forest.
Altitude Range
800–2400 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small tyrant flycatcher of the Northern Andes is named for its distinctive rufous-orange breast, which contrasts with olive upperparts. It forages quietly in the shady understory and often joins mixed-species flocks in cloud forests. Its soft, high-pitched notes can be hard to locate, but the warm breast color is a reliable field mark.
Temperament
active but retiring in dense cover
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between low perches
Social Behavior
Often found singly, in pairs, or with family groups; frequently joins mixed-species foraging flocks in the understory. Nests are typically cup-shaped and placed low to mid-levels in dense vegetation. Both adults likely share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives thin, high-pitched tseet and sip notes and soft whistles that can be easily overlooked in forest noise. Song is a simple series of high, faint phrases delivered from concealed perches.
