The yellow-crowned tyrannulet is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Costa Rica, Panama, and in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Region
Central America and northern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from Costa Rica and Panama through most of mainland tropical South America, absent only from Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It favors lowland humid forests, riverine woodland, forest edges, second growth, and wooded clearings. Often found in canopy and subcanopy strata, including along gallery forests and tall secondary growth. It adapts well to semi-open wooded habitats and can appear in plantations and wooded parks near forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny canopy flycatcher, the yellow-crowned tyrannulet is the sole species in the genus Tyrannulus. Its yellow crown patch is often concealed but can be flared when excited. It frequently flicks its tail and wings while foraging high in the canopy and at forest edges, where its thin, high-pitched calls carry surprisingly far.
Temperament
active and alert
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with quick sallies from perches
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks in the canopy and along forest edges. Nest is a small cup placed high in trees; both parents attend young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives thin, high-pitched tseet and seee notes, often in quick sequences. The voice is penetrating but soft, repeated from exposed perches in the canopy, especially at dawn and late afternoon.
Plumage
Olive-green above with yellow-washed underparts and a grayish head; a small yellow crown patch is often concealed. Wings are dusky with two pale wingbars, and the tail is dark. Shows a faint pale eye-ring and supercilium; bill is short and broad.
Diet
Primarily small insects and other arthropods, taken by sallying from exposed perches and by gleaning from foliage. It captures flying prey with quick aerial sorties and picks small invertebrates from leaves and twigs. Occasionally may take tiny berries when insect prey is scarce.
Preferred Environment
Feeds mainly in the canopy and subcanopy along forest edges, clearings, and riparian corridors. Also forages in tall secondary growth and wooded plantations where perches are abundant.
