Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola maculirostris Scientific name definitions

This is one of the smaller ground-tyrants, and of the species found in the Andes it is indeed the smallest. In several ways it is different from other Andean or Southern Cone ground-tyrants. Other than its smaller size, it is a tad more compact with perhaps a shorter tail than in other species. It also has relatively well marked wingbars, lacking in other ground-tyrants and a stronger eyeline and more obvious supercilium than in most ground-tyrants. The small size, wing bars and general coloration suggest a close relationship with the Little Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola fluviatilis) although molecular data does not bear this out. Also unusual for a ground-tyrant is that it has a noticeable and relatively complex flight song. Most ground-tyrants give simple one note chips when doing aerial displays, while the Spot-billed gives a series of accelerating chips that crescendo: tp-tp-tp-tp-tp-tpPRTRRPPPP. Spot-billed Ground-Tyrants have an amazingly large latitudinal distribution from Colombia to southernmost Patagonia. They are not always restricted to the Andes and can be found at or near sea level particularly in the non-breeding season in Chile. Their preferred habitat is open country, usually slopes, which have open grassland with a few shrubs, and rocky areas.

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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.