Gray-and-white Tyrannulet Pseudelaenia leucospodia Scientific name definitions

The Gray-and-white Tyrannulet is generally considered to be the sole representative of the genus Pseudelaenia, which in turn is currently thought to be most closely related to the wagtail-tyrants, genus Stigmatura. This species is endemic to the Tumbesian region of southwest Ecuador and northwest Peru, where it is found in arid scrub below approximately 800 m. It is generally fairly common, and is usually found foraging alone or in pairs. The Gray-and-white Tyrannulet is reasonably well named, being largely grayish-brown above, with whitish wing fringes, and mainly whitish below; there is a white supraloral line and large but semi-concealed white coronal patch.

12·5 cm; 10–11 g. Has white supraloral line; uniform pale grayish brown above, large white coronal patch (semi-concealed), surrounding crown feathers slightly elongated and often parted into bifurcated crest; wings dusky, wing coverts and flight feathers narrowly edged whitish; tail grey; face grayish white, entire underparts whitish, tinged gray on flanks and creamy on belly; iris dark brown; bill brownish black, lower mandible broadly pinkish at base, mouth-lining pink; tarsi gray. Sexes similar. Juvenile has less white in crown.

Arid Pacific slope and coast of W Ecuador (I de la Plata, off Manabí, also Puna I and W Guayas, S Loja; one recent sighting in mainland Manabí (1 Solano-Ugalde, A., Arcos-Torres, A. and Toapanta Ruperti, C. (2008). New and noteworthy records for Tumbesian birds in Ecuador. Cotinga 29: 69–71. Close ) ) and NW Peru (S to Ancash).