Grayish Mourner Rhytipterna simplex Scientific name definitions

The Grayish Mourner inhabits the middle and upper strata of humid forest, is widely distributed across the vast majority of Amazonia, where it is typically fairly common, and is also found in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil, in which region it is generally much rarer. In the 19th century, the Grayish Mourner was frequently placed in the Cotingidae, and throughout its range the species is perhaps most likely to be confused with a cotingid, the Screaming Piha (Lipaugus vociferans), which is larger, rather darker gray, and its paler irides. The Grayish Mourner is rather unusual among tyrant-flycatchers in that the sexes can be differentiated on plumage, with females displaying usually obvious brownish fringes to the wing and tail feathers. Despite the species’ undoubted abundance, almost nothing is known about its breeding biology.

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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.