Birds
Tufted Tit-tyrant
Anairetes parulus
Flicking its tail constantly while a spiky, forward-curling crest bobs above its head, a tufted tit-tyrant ranks among the most common and easily noticed small birds across Andean and Patagonian scrub.
Overview
The tufted tit-tyrant, Anairetes parulus, is a Least Concern bird native to forest, grassland, and mountain habitat across a broad range of the Andes and Patagonia. Its distinctive spiky crest, its restless tail-flicking habit, and its abundance across a wide elevational range make it one of the more familiar and easily recognised small songbirds found anywhere in South America.
A tiny bird that never sits still
Rarely pausing for more than a moment, the tufted tit-tyrant moves constantly through shrubs and low trees, its flicking tail and spiky crest making it one of the easiest small birds to notice across its wide Andean and Patagonian range.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and abundant across suitable scrub and woodland-edge habitat throughout the Andes and Patagonia.
Tufted Tit-tyrant: common questions
Why is it called the tufted tit-tyrant?
This species has a distinctive spiky, forward-curling crest on its head, a feature that gives the species part of its common name alongside its restless, tit-like foraging behaviour.
Why does the tufted tit-tyrant flick its tail so much?
This species constantly flicks its tail while foraging, a restless habit that makes it easy to notice despite its small size and helps distinguish it from similar small birds.
Is the tufted tit-tyrant a common bird?
Yes, this species is one of the most common and widely encountered small birds across Andean and Patagonian scrub and woodland edge habitat.
What elevations does the tufted tit-tyrant live at?
This species is found across a wide elevational range, from lowland scrub up into higher Andean terrain throughout its South American range.