Gray-backed Tachuri Polystictus superciliaris Scientific name definitions

The Gray-backed Tachuri is a rare species of flycatcher endemic to eastern Brazil.  A tiny, drab flycatcher, this species is gray-headed with a white supercilium and brown back, largely orange-buff underparts, and drab wings with faint brownish wingbars.  It is visually quite distinctive from its congener, the Bearded Tachuri (P. pectoralis).  The Gray-backed Tachuri favors open grassland habitat between 1100 and 1600 meters on sparsely vegetated serras in its tiny range in interior eastern Brazil.  The species can often be located by its weak, stuttering trill of a song.

9·5 cm; 6 g. Has short white supercilium , white eyering; crown grey, feathers elongated and partially concealing white coronal patch; upperparts brownish-grey; wings dark dusky brown, tips of wing-coverts and edges of remiges faintly paler brown; tail dusky; chin whitish, throat and underparts medium pinkish-buff, fading to whitish on lower belly; iris dark brown; bill black; legs black. Sexes alike, female slightly smaller than male. Juvenile has cream-coloured belly.

Rocky grassland with scattered shrubs (campo rupestre), abandoned brushy pastures, high-altitude grassland, and brushy edges of cloudforest; 900–2300 m, mostly below 1700 m.

Resident.

Insects. Forages mainly alone, also in pairs or trios. Clings to vertical stems, or perches on low shrubs, rarely dropping to ground; mainly sally-gleaning and perch-gleaning, often returning to same perch; weak flier.

Rapid and repeated “pilrup-pilrup-pilrup” and “fruirilril­rilrilril”; weak, fast, musical trill beginning with stuttering notes, rising slightly, then trailing off; also “tee-kpuj” and quiet contact call, “purp”.

Jul–Sept. Nest a small cup of rootlets and moss, placed in fork of small shrub. Clutch 1–2 eggs; no information on incubation and fledging periods.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Central Brazilian Hills and Tablelands EBA and Atlantic Forest Mountain EBA. Generally uncommon and very local; perhaps commonest in Serra do Espinhaço. In Caraça National Park, the species is common in campo rupestre and abandoned pastures and, especially, in natural grassland; it occurs also in Serra da Canastra and Serra do Cipó National Parks. Montane habitats within its range have suffered less destruction than have adjacent lowland areas; increasing habitat conversion for timber and charcoal extraction, cattle-ranching and associated fires are principal current threats, although the species persists in partially degraded habitats such as abandoned mines.