En bref

• Scientific Name: Knipolegus cyanirostris
• Spanish Name: Negrito de pico azul
• Famille : Tyrannidae
• Known Nicknames: Blue-billed Tyrant, Blue-billed Black-tyrant
• Average Length: 15–17 cm / 5.9–6.7 in
• Average Weight: 17–23 g / 0.6–0.8 oz
• Envergure : N/A
• Key Feature: Male has glossy black plumage with a striking pale blue bill
• Régime alimentaire principal : Principalement insectivore
• Range: Southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, and Uruguay
• Habitat: Montane and lowland forests, forest edges, and clearings with scattered trees
• Structure sociale : Solitaires ou en couples
• Nesting/Breeding: Natural tree cavities or old woodpecker holes
• Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
• Évolution démographique : Stable

The Blue-billed Black-Tyrant (*Knipolegus cyanirostris*) is a striking passerine bird native to the humid montane forests of southeastern South America, from Brazil to Argentina. True to its name, the male is a sleek, sooty black with a startlingly vibrant, powder-blue bill that contrasts sharply against its dark plumage, while the female is a more cryptic brown with subtle streaking and a pale bill. A special feature of this species is its distinctive display flight: during the breeding season, males perform a dramatic, vertical “sky-dance,” rising high into the air with rapid wingbeats before plummeting back down, accompanied by a sharp, metallic call. As a member of the tyrant flycatcher family, it is an agile insectivore, often seen sallying from exposed perches to snatch prey mid-flight, and its preference for dense understory vegetation near streams makes it a secretive but rewarding find for birdwatchers.

Faits amusants

Despite its name, the male’s bill is actually a startlingly bright sky-blue, not black, and it glows vividly against its dark plumage—a color that fades to a duller gray after the breeding season. One quirky behavior is its “tail-flicking” display: while perched, it rapidly snaps its tail upward and sideways, often accompanied by a sharp, metallic *tink* call, as if scolding an invisible intruder. It also has an unusual adaptation for a tyrant flycatcher: it will sometimes hover in place to pluck berries from trees, showing a surprising dietary flexibility beyond its primary insect-catching diet.

Habitats et répartition

This bird is found in south-eastern South America, ranging from southern and eastern Brazil through eastern Paraguay and into Uruguay, and reaching north-eastern Argentina (Misiones and Corrientes). Its habitat consists primarily of humid montane and lowland forests, including the Atlantic Forest, as well as forest edges, second-growth woodland, and gallery forests along rivers. It is also frequently encountered in dense, shrubby undergrowth, bamboo thickets, and clearings within these forested areas, typically staying low to the ground. While generally resident, some populations may make local seasonal movements in response to food availability.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Blue-billed Black-Tyrant is generally solitary or found in pairs during the breeding season, defending small territories in dense undergrowth near water. Mating is monogamous for the season, with males performing short display flights from a perch to attract females, often fanning their tail and exposing the white wing patch. The female builds a cup-shaped nest of moss and rootlets, typically hidden in a crevice or bank, and incubates two to three eggs alone. A unique reproductive strategy is the male’s role in feeding the incubating female and later the chicks, but he does not participate in nest construction or brooding. This species shows no cooperative breeding; pairs dissolve after fledging, and individuals become largely silent and secretive outside the breeding period.

Alimentation

The Blue-billed Black-Tyrant is primarily an insectivorous bird, with its diet consisting almost entirely of small arthropods. It forages actively from a low perch, making short sallies to snatch flying insects like flies, moths, and beetles out of the air, a behavior known as hawking. Interestingly, unlike many tyrant flycatchers that feed high in the canopy, this species often hunts very close to the ground or even on the ground itself, where it will glean spiders, caterpillars, and other invertebrates from leaf litter or low vegetation. It has also been observed occasionally consuming small berries and fruits, particularly during the non-breeding season, adding a minor frugivorous element to its otherwise strict insect-based diet.

Couleurs

The male Blue-billed Black-Tyrant is entirely matte black with a striking, pale blue-gray bill, while the female is dark brown above and heavily streaked buff-brown below, lacking the blue bill. Its black plumage offers camouflage in shaded forest understories, and the female’s streaked pattern blends with leaf litter and dappled light. The species has no other unique markings or color patches.

Distribution Map

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

Détails de l'attraction

Cliquez sur un marqueur pour obtenir plus d'informations ici.