<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='359562'>Planalto Tyrannulet

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En bref

  • Scientific Name: Phyllomyias fasciatus
  • Spanish Name: Tiranuelo planalto
  • Famille : Tyrannidae
  • Known Nicknames: Planalto Tyrannulet
  • Average Length: 11.5 cm / 4.5 in
  • Average Weight: 9–11 g / 0.3–0.4 oz
  • Envergure : N/A
  • Key Feature: Pale yellow underparts with faint dusky streaks on the throat and breast
  • Régime alimentaire principal : Principalement insectivore
  • Range: Eastern and south-central Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina
  • Habitat: Humid montane forest, forest edges, and secondary growth
  • Structure sociale : Solitaires ou en couples
  • Nesting/Breeding: Small cup-shaped nest in a tree fork
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : Stable

The Planalto Tyrannulet (*Phyllomyias fasciatus*) is a small, lively flycatcher endemic to the highland forests of eastern Brazil, most notably the Planalto region. Its most striking feature is its boldly patterned head, where a crisp white supercilium and contrasting dark ear-coverts frame a pale, slightly notched bill. The bird’s upperparts are a muted olive-green, while the underparts are a soft yellow, often with faint, diffuse streaking on the throat and breast that gives it its scientific name (*fasciatus* meaning “banded”). A special behavioral trait is its active, acrobatic foraging style, frequently hanging upside-down to glean insects from the undersides of leaves, a habit that sets it apart from many other tyrannulets. Its voice, a sharp, insect-like “tsee-tsee-tsee,” is often the first clue to its presence in the misty canopy.

Faits amusants

Despite its unassuming appearance, the Planalto Tyrannulet has a surprisingly loud, buzzy song that sounds more like an insect than a bird, often delivered from an exposed perch. It exhibits a quirky “tail-pumping” behavior, rhythmically flicking its tail downward while foraging, which may help flush hidden insects. One of its most unique adaptations is a specialized brush-tipped tongue, allowing it to efficiently lap up nectar from flowers, supplementing its insect diet in a manner unusual for a tyrant flycatcher.

Habitats et répartition

The Planalto Tyrannulet inhabits a variety of wooded environments, primarily within the Atlantic Forest and its associated ecotones. It is found in humid and semi-deciduous forests, forest edges, second-growth woodlands, and gallery forests, often favoring areas with a dense understory and canopy. It also occurs in coffee plantations and other shaded agroforestry systems, demonstrating some tolerance for human-modified landscapes as long as substantial tree cover remains. Geographically, its distribution is centered in eastern and southern Brazil, ranging from the state of Bahia southward through Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and into Paraná, Santa Catarina, and northern Rio Grande do Sul. The species also extends into adjacent areas of northeastern Argentina (Misiones province) and eastern Paraguay. It is generally considered resident across this range, with no notable migratory movements.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Planalto Tyrannulet is generally observed alone or in pairs, with a social structure centered on a monogamous bond during the breeding season. Mating habits are not extensively documented, but like most tyrannids, the male likely establishes a territory and attracts a female through vocal displays and simple aerial chases. Reproduction involves the construction of a small, cup-shaped nest, often placed in a tree fork or among dense foliage. A unique aspect of their reproductive strategy is the use of snake skin or other shed reptile skin as nesting material, which is thought to deter predators. The female typically lays two to three eggs, and both parents share incubation and feeding duties, though the precise duration of these stages is poorly known in the wild.

Alimentation

The Planalto Tyrannulet is primarily insectivorous, with its diet consisting of small arthropods such as beetles, caterpillars, ants, and flies, which it actively forages for by gleaning from leaves and branches in the forest canopy. Interestingly, unlike many other tyrannulets, this species also incorporates a notable amount of small fruits and berries into its diet, particularly during the non-breeding season when insect prey may be less abundant, making it an opportunistic frugivore. It often joins mixed-species foraging flocks, where it can be seen darting out to snatch prey in short, acrobatic sallies.

Couleurs

The Planalto Tyrannulet is a small, primarily olive-green bird with a paler, yellowish-white belly and throat. Its most distinctive feature is a subtle, pale superciliary stripe above the eye and two faint, whitish wingbars on the darker wings. The head is slightly grayish, and the underparts may show a faint, diffuse yellowish wash, but it lacks bold markings or strong camouflage adaptations, relying instead on its subdued, uniform coloration to blend into the dappled light of its forest canopy habitat.

Distribution Map

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