Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant

Open Bird Bucket List ↗

Quick Facts

Endemic
  • Scientific Name: Hemitriccus orbitatus
  • Spanish Name: Tirano-todi de anteojos
  • Family: Tyrannidae
  • Known Nicknames: Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant, Spectacled Tody-Tyrant
  • Average Length: 10–11 cm / 3.9–4.3 in
  • Average Weight: 7–9 g / 0.25–0.32 oz
  • Wingspan: N/A
  • Key Feature: Prominent white eye-ring contrasting with olive-green head
  • Primary Diet: Primarily Insectivore
  • Range: Southeastern Brazil
  • Habitat: Lowland and montane Atlantic Forest understory
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs
  • Nesting/Breeding: Cup-shaped nest in tree fork or bamboo clump
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Decreasing

The Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant (*Hemitriccus orbitatus*) is a small, elusive flycatcher endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, instantly recognizable by its most distinctive feature: a bold, crescent-shaped white ring around each eye that contrasts sharply with its olive-green head and face. Slightly larger than a hummingbird, this tyrant-flycatcher sports a pale yellow belly, two buffy wingbars, and a short, flat bill adapted for snatching insects in the understory. A special behavioral quirk is its habit of perching upright with its tail slightly cocked, often flicking its wings nervously while emitting a soft, high-pitched “tsee-tsee” call. As a forest specialist, it relies on intact humid lowlands and foothills, making it a sensitive indicator of habitat quality, but its cryptic coloration and quiet demeanor mean it is more often heard than seen, rewarding patient birdwatchers with a glimpse of its animated, insect-hunting lifestyle.

Fun Facts

Though small, the Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant is a master of camouflage, its olive-green plumage and bright white eye-ring blending perfectly into the dappled light of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest understory. It has a quirky feeding style, often sallying out from a perch to snatch insects mid-air, then returning to the same spot with a sharp, vibrating wing-snap that sounds like a tiny zipper. One of its most unique traits is a rapid, insect-like trill that descends in pitch, used so consistently in territorial displays that researchers can identify individuals by subtle variations in the call. Unlike many flycatchers, it builds a closed, pear-shaped nest with a side entrance, often suspended from a branch over water, a clever adaptation to deter climbing predators.

Habitats & Distribution

The Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant is primarily associated with the understory and edges of humid lowland and montane Atlantic Forest, including both primary and mature secondary growth. It shows a strong preference for dense, tangled vegetation, often near streams or in areas with abundant bamboo thickets, where it forages for insects. Its geographical range is restricted to a narrow strip of coastal eastern Brazil, extending from the state of Bahia south through Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and into eastern São Paulo, with isolated populations possibly reaching into northern Paraná. The species is considered endemic to this region and is largely confined to elevations from sea level up to about 1,000 meters, though it is most common below 600 meters.

Behaviours & Reproduction

The Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant is a solitary or pair-dwelling bird, with no evidence of complex social structures beyond the breeding pair. Its mating behavior is poorly documented, but like many tyrant flycatchers, it is presumed to be monogamous during the breeding season. The species constructs a distinctive hanging purse-shaped nest, woven from plant fibers and moss, suspended from a thin branch or fork. This nest shape is a unique reproductive strategy that likely provides protection against arboreal predators and heavy rainfall. The female typically lays two eggs, and both parents share incubation and feeding duties, though detailed observations of courtship displays or copulation rituals remain scarce.

Diet

The Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant is an insectivorous bird, with a diet consisting almost entirely of small arthropods gleaned from foliage. It primarily consumes a variety of insects, including beetles, flies, caterpillars, and bugs, as well as spiders, often snatching prey from the undersides of leaves in the understory or performing short, sallying flights to capture flying insects. An interesting aspect of its feeding behavior is its methodical, deliberate foraging style, where it moves slowly and scans leaves meticulously, sometimes hanging upside down to access hidden prey. Unlike many tyrant flycatchers, it rarely hovers and relies more on precision gleaning than aerial pursuits, and it has been observed to occasionally consume small fruits or berries, though these make up a negligible portion of its overall diet.

Colors

The Eye-ringed Tody-Tyrant is predominantly olive-green above and pale yellow below, with a distinctive white or pale yellow eye-ring that encircles the dark eye, creating a bold facial marking. Its wings and tail are darker olive with subtle yellowish edging, while the throat is whitish and the breast shows faint olive streaking. This subtle, uniform green-and-yellow coloration provides effective camouflage in the dappled light of its humid forest understory habitat, breaking up its outline among leaves and shadows.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.

Use the map filter to show only featured places.

Featured places