Great Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis lividus Scientific name definitions

The Great Shrike-Tyrant is the southern replacement of the White-tailed Shrike-Tyrant (Agriornis albicauda) and it shares with it a curiously large distribution but very low density of occurrence within that distribution. Of the widespread specialties in Chile, perhaps none is as difficult to find than this one. It is also a species that is very quiet, and very few recordings of the voice exist. The Great Shrike-Tyrant is the largest tyrant flycatcher, and it has a strong and thick bill with a large terminal hook, giving it the shrike part of its name. It can catch and dispatch prey that are larger than you would expect for the size of the bird, including lizards and there are even published reports of this flycatcher feeding on hummingbirds, particularly the Green-backed Firecrown (Sephanoides sephanoides). Little is known of its nesting and behavior, as is the case for many in this genus. In the north of its range in Central Chile this is a species of various edge habitats, particularly taller matorral habitat on slopes, although along the coast it may be found in dune habitats, and the transition from marsh to shrub. Farther south in Patagonia it is a forest edge species, with a fondness for the combination of a forest patch, open shrub steppe and a rocky outcropping.

26–28 cm. The largest flycatcher. Has dark head, ear-coverts tinged cinnamon, some whitish mottling on lores; mostly dull greyish-brown above; wings duskier, wing feathers obscurely edged pale brown; tail black, narrow tip and outer web of outer feather buffy white; throat white, sharply streaked black; underparts slightly paler greyish-brown, lower belly and, es­pecially, crissum washed cinnamon or cinnamon-buff; iris dark; bill heavy, strongly hooked, upper mandible black, lower mandible pale horn and becoming darker at tip; legs blackish. Sexes alike. Juvenile is browner and in­distinctly streaked dusky on head, back and upper breast, has much less streaking on throat, entire belly cinnamon-buff. Race fortis is somewhat larger than nominate, and overall very slightly brighter.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Semi-open shrubby and agricultural regions; avoids both very xeric and very wet habitats, as well as wooded or heavily populated areas. Found in sub-arid countryside with large patches of bushes, thick scrub (such as Chiliotrichium amelloideum), cacti and bromeliads; open flats, pastures dotted with bushes on surround­ing slopes, trees in transitional Nothofagus forest. Sea-level to 1800 m, mostly below 1500 m.

Resident.

Large insects, small mammals, lizards, frogs, eggs or nestlings of other birds; rarely small birds, including Anairetes parulus. Occurs in highly dispersed pairs. Perches conspicuously on rocky outcrops or in bushtops , taking most prey from the ground, or by hawking in air.

Usually silent; call “t-eek” or “t-eek-ek”. Adult male’s atten­uated two outer primaries produce low-pitched, almost inaudible whirring sound during aerial display.

Oct (coastal) and Nov (interior) in Chile. Male has aerial display. Bulky cup-shaped stick nest, lined with grass and wool, placed in bush or cactus. Clutch 2–4 eggs, usually 3. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Uncommon, becoming rare in S part of range. Most common in C Chile (from Aconcagua S to Bío Bío) and in SC Patagonia (Chubut and Aisén). Found in many national parks within its range.