Black-throated Tody-Tyrant

Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Hemitriccus granadensis
  • Spanish Name: Tirano-todi gorjinegro
  • Family: Tyrannidae
  • Known Nicknames: Black-throated Tody-tyrant, Black-throated Tody-Flycatcher
  • Average Length: 10.5–11.5 cm / 4.1–4.5 in
  • Average Weight: 8–10 g / 0.28–0.35 oz
  • Wingspan: N/A
  • Key Feature: Black throat and upper chest contrasting with yellow belly and olive-green upperparts
  • Primary Diet: Insectivore
  • Range: Andes of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and western Bolivia
  • Habitat: Humid montane forest and cloud forest edges, often near bamboo
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs
  • Nesting/Breeding: Domed nest with side entrance, built in dense vegetation or bamboo
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The Black-throated Tody-Tyrant (*Hemitriccus granadensis*) is a diminutive, hyperactive jewel of the Andean cloud forest, measuring just over 10 centimeters and distinguished by a crisp, sooty-black throat patch that starkly contrasts with its olive-green upperparts and pale yellow belly. A master of camouflage despite its vivid markings, this flycatcher possesses a unique, flattened bill perfectly adapted for snatching small insects mid-air with rapid, scythe-like sallies. Its most special feature is its haunting, descending whistle—a series of clear, bell-like notes that echo through the moss-draped branches, often betraying its presence long before the bird’s restless, tail-cocked silhouette is spotted. Endemic to high-elevation forests from Colombia to Peru, it thrives in the dense, epiphyte-laden canopy, where its subtle beauty and relentless foraging define the misty montane realm.

Fun Facts

Despite its tiny size, this Andean flycatcher has a disproportionately loud, buzzy song that sounds more like an insect than a bird, often delivered while nervously flicking its wings. It engages in a quirky “tail-pumping” display, rhythmically bobbing its short tail up and down even when perched still, a behavior thought to flush out hidden prey. A unique adaptation is its preference for perching nearly upside-down on thin, mossy branches to snatch insects from the undersides of leaves, a technique more common among vireos than tyrant flycatchers.

Habitats & Distribution

The Black-throated Tody-Tyrant is found in the humid montane forests of the northern Andes, ranging from western Venezuela through Colombia and Ecuador into extreme northern Peru. It inhabits the understory and edges of cloud forests, typically at elevations between 1,500 and 2,700 meters, favoring areas with dense moss, epiphytes, and bamboo thickets. The species is generally resident within its range, though it may undertake local altitudinal movements in response to seasonal food availability or disturbance.

Behaviours & Reproduction

This species is generally solitary or found in pairs, maintaining small territories within humid montane forests. Mating appears to be monogamous, with pairs defending their territory year-round through vocal duets. The nest is a distinctive elongated, pendant pouch woven from plant fibers and moss, often suspended from a thin branch over a stream or ravine. Females lay two white eggs, and both parents share incubation and feeding duties, a common strategy among tyrannids. No unique reproductive strategies like cooperative breeding or brood parasitism have been documented for this bird.

Diet

The Black-throated Tody-Tyrant is an insectivorous bird, with its diet consisting almost entirely of small arthropods. It is a specialized foliage-gleaner, meticulously searching the undersides of leaves and epiphytes in the dense understory of cloud forests for its prey. Interestingly, it employs a unique foraging technique known as "sally-gleaning," where it makes short, fluttering flights to snatch insects directly from leaf surfaces rather than catching them in mid-air. Their menu primarily includes tiny beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and various insect larvae, and they are known to occasionally consume small berries or seeds, though this is a rare supplement to their largely protein-rich diet.

Colors

The Black-throated Tody-Tyrant has olive-green upperparts and a pale yellow belly, with a striking black throat and breast patch. Its head features a grayish crown and distinct white postocular spot. The wings show two pale wingbars, and the tail is dark with olive edges. This plumage provides camouflage in its Andean cloud forest habitat by blending with dappled light and foliage.