The tawny-breasted myiobius or tawny-breasted flycatcher is a species of passerine bird in the family Onychorhynchidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests.
Region
Northern Andes and adjacent foothills
Typical Environment
Occurs from eastern Panama through the Andean slopes of Colombia and Venezuela south into Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Favors subtropical and tropical moist montane forests, particularly dense understory and edge habitats. Often found along forested ravines, stream corridors, and in secondary growth adjacent to primary forest. It is typically local but can be fairly common where suitable habitat is extensive.
Altitude Range
400–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy understory flycatcher of humid foothill and montane forests, it often perches quietly and makes short sallies to snatch insects. It may join mixed-species flocks, moving methodically through dense midstory. Its warm tawny breast and olive-brown back provide excellent camouflage in filtered forest light. The species is generally considered of low conservation concern where intact forest persists.
Temperament
quiet and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick sallies from low perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, keeping low to mid-level perches in dense vegetation. Frequently associates with mixed-species foraging flocks moving along forest edges and stream gullies. Breeding pairs are territorial in suitable patches; nesting is in well-concealed sites within dense foliage.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft and high-pitched, including thin whistles and brief trills delivered from shaded perches. Calls are subtle tseep or tsip notes that can be easily overlooked amid forest ambient sounds.
Plumage
Olive-brown upperparts with a warm tawny to rufous-washed breast and buffy throat, sometimes showing faint pale wingbars. Underparts grade from tawny breast to paler belly. Feathers appear soft and plain, aiding camouflage in dim understory.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small flying and foliage-dwelling insects such as flies, beetles, moths, and spiders. Captures prey with short sallies from low, shaded perches and by gleaning from leaves and twigs. Occasionally hawks briefly in small clearings or along trails where insect activity is higher.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the understory to midstory of humid montane forest, especially along edges, gaps, and near streams. Often uses tangles, viney thickets, and secondary growth adjacent to mature forest.
