Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant Ochthoeca fumicolor Scientific name definitions

The Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant is a small flycatcher of montane northwestern South America. Ranging from southwestern Venezuela south along the Andes to Bolivia, the species prefers stunted forest near treeline between 2600 and 4200 meters in elevation. It is a subtly colored, but attractive species: rufous brown above with a broad white-buff superciliary, an ashy throat, cinnamon underparts, and blackish wings marked by two cinnamon wingbars. It often perches conspicuously, twitching its tail and occasionally making soft, sibilant calls. Its nest and eggs are known, but nothing has been published concering other aspects of its reproductive ecology.

Like other species of Ochthoeca, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrants have a compact body shape, generally upright posture with a protruding breast when perched, moderately long tails, moderately long tarsi, and a triangular, moderately compressed and broad-based bill with rictal bristles extending slightly beyond the middle of the bill (1 Ohlson, J. I., M. Irestedt, H. Batalha-Filho, P. G. P. Ericson, and J. Fjeldså (2020). A revised classification of the fluvicoline tyrant flycatchers (Passeriformes, Tyrannidae, Fluvicolinae). Zootaxa 4747(1):167–176. Close ). Overall, they have a stout, flat-headed appearance. The face is largely grayish, with a long, broad buffy white superciliary. The remaining upperparts are brown. The wings are blackish with two rufous wing bars, while the tail is dusky with white outer edges. The underparts are cinnamon rufous. Females are similar but slightly duller overall (2 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (2009). Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America: the Passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA. Close ).

The Crowned Chat-Tyrant (Silvicultrix frontalis) is similar to the present species, but smaller, browner overall, grayish below, and lacks prominent wing bars. Another similar congener, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca rufipectoralis) has a white, rather than cinnamon-rufous, belly (3 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ). d'Orbigny's Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca oenanthoides), differs from Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant in having a white superciliary, grayer upperparts, and almost unmarked wings (2 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (2009). Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America: the Passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA. Close ).

Juvenile and Formative Plumage

The immature plumages are not well described, but juveniles are said to be similar to adults but overall a warmer shade of brown above and without gray on the chin (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close ).

Definitive Basic (Adult) Plumage

Nominate subspecies has a broad whitish supercilium extending from the lores to the side of the hindcrown, becoming more ochraceous behind eye; crown warm brown; back rufescent brown, becoming more rufous brown towards rump; wings dusky or blackish, two prominent rufous wingbars, lower one more conspicuous; tail dusky to blackish, white outer webs of outer rectrices; throat and lower face grayish; underparts cinnamon-rufous, undertail coverts buff. Female somewhat paler and duller below.

No information.

Bill

Black.

Iris and Facial Skin

Iris is dark brown to “clear brown” (5 Sclater, P. L., and O. Salvin (1879). On the birds collected by the late Mr. T. K. Salmon in the State of Antioquia, United States of Colombia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1879(3):486–550. Close ).

Tarsi and Toes

Black

General

• Total length — 14·5–16 cm.
• Mass — 16–19 g.

Linear Measurements

Ochthoeca fumicolor brunneifrons (♀♀)

• Wing – 81, 86.5 mm (n = 2; 6 Berlepsch, H. von, and J. Stolzmann (1896). On the ornithological researches of M. Jean Kalinowski in central Peru. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1896:322-388. Close ).
• Tail – 71.5, 76.5 mm (n = 2; 6 Berlepsch, H. von, and J. Stolzmann (1896). On the ornithological researches of M. Jean Kalinowski in central Peru. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1896:322-388. Close ).
• Culmen [from base?] – 14 mm (n = 2; 6 Berlepsch, H. von, and J. Stolzmann (1896). On the ornithological researches of M. Jean Kalinowski in central Peru. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1896:322-388. Close ).
• Tarsus – 22.5, 24 mm (n = 2; 6 Berlepsch, H. von, and J. Stolzmann (1896). On the ornithological researches of M. Jean Kalinowski in central Peru. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1896:322-388. Close ).

Ochthoeca fumicolor brunneifrons (gender unknown)

• Wing – 85.5-94 mm (n = ?; 6 Berlepsch, H. von, and J. Stolzmann (1896). On the ornithological researches of M. Jean Kalinowski in central Peru. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1896:322-388. Close ).
• Tail – 74-81.5 mm (n = ?; 6 Berlepsch, H. von, and J. Stolzmann (1896). On the ornithological researches of M. Jean Kalinowski in central Peru. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1896:322-388. Close ).
• Culmen [from base?] – 13.5-15 mm (n = ?; 6 Berlepsch, H. von, and J. Stolzmann (1896). On the ornithological researches of M. Jean Kalinowski in central Peru. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1896:322-388. Close ).
• Tarsus – 23.5-24 mm (n = ?; 6 Berlepsch, H. von, and J. Stolzmann (1896). On the ornithological researches of M. Jean Kalinowski in central Peru. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1896:322-388. Close ).

Ochthoeca fumicolor ferruginea (♂♂)

• Wing – 80 mm (n = 1, holotype; 7 Zimmer, J. T. (1937). Studies of Peruvian birds 26. Notes on the genera Agriornis, Muscisaxicola, Myotheretes, Ochthoeca, Colonia, Knipolegus, Phaeotriccus, Fluvicola, and Ramphotrigon. American Museum Novitates 930:1–27. Close ).
• Tail – 69.25 mm (n = 1, holotype; 7 Zimmer, J. T. (1937). Studies of Peruvian birds 26. Notes on the genera Agriornis, Muscisaxicola, Myotheretes, Ochthoeca, Colonia, Knipolegus, Phaeotriccus, Fluvicola, and Ramphotrigon. American Museum Novitates 930:1–27. Close ).
• Exposed Culmen – 11 mm (n = 1, holotype; 7 Zimmer, J. T. (1937). Studies of Peruvian birds 26. Notes on the genera Agriornis, Muscisaxicola, Myotheretes, Ochthoeca, Colonia, Knipolegus, Phaeotriccus, Fluvicola, and Ramphotrigon. American Museum Novitates 930:1–27. Close ).
• Culmen from base – 15.5 mm (n = 1, holotype; 7 Zimmer, J. T. (1937). Studies of Peruvian birds 26. Notes on the genera Agriornis, Muscisaxicola, Myotheretes, Ochthoeca, Colonia, Knipolegus, Phaeotriccus, Fluvicola, and Ramphotrigon. American Museum Novitates 930:1–27. Close ).
• Tarsus – 20.5 mm (n = 1, holotype; 7 Zimmer, J. T. (1937). Studies of Peruvian birds 26. Notes on the genera Agriornis, Muscisaxicola, Myotheretes, Ochthoeca, Colonia, Knipolegus, Phaeotriccus, Fluvicola, and Ramphotrigon. American Museum Novitates 930:1–27. Close ).

Mass

• Ochthoeca fumicolor fumicolor 16.5 g (♂) (8 Vuilleumier, F. (1971). Generic relationships and speciation patterns in Ochthoeca, Myiotheretes, Xolmis, Neoxolmis, Agriornis, and Muscisaxicola. Bulletin of the Musem of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 141:181–232. Close ).

Ochthoeca fumicolor is often treated as conspecific with Rufous-browed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca superciliosa) by most recent authors, although there have been suggestions that multiple species were involved (e.g., 9 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (1994). The Birds of South America. Volume 2. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA. Close , 10 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 11 Dickinson, E. C., and L. Christidis, Editors (2014). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Fourth Edition. Volume 2. Aves Press, Eastbourne, UK. Close ); Cory and Hellmayr (12 Cory, C. B., and C. E. Hellmayr (1927). Catalogue of Birds of the Americas. Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History (Zoological Series) 13(5). Close ) did treat superciliosa as specifically distinct, on the basis on marked plumage differentiation, and the justification for subsequent treatments as conspecific with fumicolor are not clear. Zimmer's (7 Zimmer, J. T. (1937). Studies of Peruvian birds 26. Notes on the genera Agriornis, Muscisaxicola, Myotheretes, Ochthoeca, Colonia, Knipolegus, Phaeotriccus, Fluvicola, and Ramphotrigon. American Museum Novitates 930:1–27. Close :8) suggestion that the then newly described taxon ferruginea, from the north end of the Western and Central Andes of Colombia, "shows a decided trend in the direction of superciliosa," and that the characters of superciliosa are "no more than extremes of characteristics found in fumicolor and its conspecies..." may be start of the trend to treat these taxa as conspecific. However, no intermediates are known, and superciliosa occurs north of the Táchira depression.

In their assessment of the complex, del Hoy and Collar (13 del Hoyo, J., and N. J. Collar (2016). Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain. Close ), using the Tobias et al. (14 Tobias, J. A., N. Seddon, C. N. Spottiswoode, J. D. Pilgrim, L. D. C. Fishpool, and N. J. Collar (2010). Quantitative criteria for species delimitation. Ibis 152(4):724–746. Close ) criteria, from which the scores in brackets are derived, found that Ochthoeca superciliosa differs in its broad rufous versus narrower whitish supercilium [3]; single versus double wingbar [3]; darker crown and upperparts [1]; richer rufous underparts (ns[1]); and smaller size than adjacent populations of Ochthoeca fumicolor fumicolor [shorter wing, effect size −2.23, score 2]. Examination (unpublished) of vocalizations also hints at differences between Ochthoeca superciliosa and the Ochthoeca fumicolor group; formal vocal and genetic studies needed.

Subspecies vary mainly in the cinnamon tones of breast and color of the supercilium.

Ochthoeca fumicolor is likely mostly closely related to the formerly conspecific Rufous-browed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca superciliosa), but Ochthoeca superciliosa has not been included in any phylogenetic study. In a large molecular phylogeny, Harvey et al. (16 Harvey, M. G., G. A. Bravo, S. Claramunt, A. M. Cuervo, G. E. Derryberry, J. Battilana, G. F. Seeholzer, J. S. McKay, B. C. O'Meara, B. C. Faircloth, S. V. Edwards, J. Pérez-Emán, R. G. Moyle, F. H. Sheldon, A. Aleixo, B. T. Smith, R. T. Chesser, L. F. Silveira, J. Cracraft, R. T. Brumfield, and E. P. Derryberry (2020). The evolution of a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Science 370:1343–1348. Close ) found that Ochthoeca fumicolor was sister to a clade that included Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca rufipectoralis), Piura Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca piurae), d'Orbigny's Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca oenanthoides), and White-browed Chat-Tyrant (Ochthoeca leucophrys). In an earlier study of the genus, Vuilleumier (8 Vuilleumier, F. (1971). Generic relationships and speciation patterns in Ochthoeca, Myiotheretes, Xolmis, Neoxolmis, Agriornis, and Muscisaxicola. Bulletin of the Musem of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 141:181–232. Close ) also suggested a close relationship with Ochthoeca oenanthoides, Ochthoeca piurae, and Ochthoeca leucophrys.

None reported.

Brown occurs in the Andes of extreme southwestern Venezuela, south of the Táchira depression and the northern part of eastern cordillera in Colombia, southward through most of the Colombian and Ecudorian Andes to west-central Bolivia (La Paz, Cochabamba) (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close , 17 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (1994). The Birds of South America. Volume 2. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA. Close , 18 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker III (2010). Birds of Peru. Revised and Updated Edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 19 Herzog, S. K., R. S. Terrill, A. E. Jahn, J. V. Remsen Jr., O. Maillard Z., V. H. García-Solíz, R. MacLeod, A. Maccormick, and J. Q. Vidoz (2016). Birds of Bolivia: Field Guide. Asociación Armonía, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Close , 20 Ascanio, D., G. A. Rodriguez, and R. Restall (2017). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 21 Freile, J., and R. Restall (2018). Birds of Ecuador. Bloomsbury, London, UK. Close ).

None described.

The Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant inhabits shrub-bordered pastures, montane dwarf forests and forest borders, and semi-humid Polylepis woodland, and open paramo with Espeletia (3 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close , 22 Ridgely, R. S., and P. J. Greenfield (2001). The Birds of Ecuador. Volumes 1–2. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA. Close ).

Across its extensive latitudinal range, it is most commonly found at around 2200–4200 m (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close , 2 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (2009). Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America: the Passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA. Close , 18 Schulenberg, T. S., D. F. Stotz, D. F. Lane, J. P. O’Neill, and T. A. Parker III (2010). Birds of Peru. Revised and Updated Edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 19 Herzog, S. K., R. S. Terrill, A. E. Jahn, J. V. Remsen Jr., O. Maillard Z., V. H. García-Solíz, R. MacLeod, A. Maccormick, and J. Q. Vidoz (2016). Birds of Bolivia: Field Guide. Asociación Armonía, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Close , 21 Freile, J., and R. Restall (2018). Birds of Ecuador. Bloomsbury, London, UK. Close ), occasionally found as low as 1800 m (3 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ) and as high as c. 4500 m (23 Vogt, C. (2006). High-elevation records of bird species from Rucu Pichincha Volcano, Ecuador. Cotinga. 26:81–83. Close ).

Resident.

No information, but territories in northeastern Ecuador appear to be occupied across multiple years (H.F. Greeney personal observation).

Food Capture and Consumption

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant searches for prey while perched on branches, rarely more than 2 m above ground and usually near main stem. It also occasionally clings to an upright stem (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close ). In more open areas it forages from exposed perches such as the tops of stumps, Espeletia plants, fence posts, bushes, or grass clumps, sallying to hawk insects from the air and from the ground (3 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 24 Calderón-Leytón, J. J. (2002). Aves de la Laguna de la Cocha. Asociación para el Desarrollo Campesino ADC San Juan de Pasto, Colombia. Close , 21 Freile, J., and R. Restall (2018). Birds of Ecuador. Bloomsbury, London, UK. Close ). Foraging birds may either return to the same perch or, occasionally may move to a new perch following a foraging sally. They occasionally hover-glean prey from the ground, from vegetation, or from other substrates (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close ).

The diet of Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant is poorly known, but stomach contents have been vaguely described as “insects” (5 Sclater, P. L., and O. Salvin (1879). On the birds collected by the late Mr. T. K. Salmon in the State of Antioquia, United States of Colombia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1879(3):486–550. Close ).

Information needed.

Information needed.

Information needed.

Information needed.

Vocal Array

Songs

Usually quiet, the song of Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant is a weak but sharp, squeaky chatter, usually given in duet: “keek-kee-keek” or “keek-tede-keek” (lasting c. 1 second). Songs are repeated at very short intervals, usually from a perch but occasionally from cover.

Calls

They make a variety of calls, either while perched or in flight, a high-pitched “tsiu,” a soft “prip,” or a clear whistled “kleeeip” (25 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close , 4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close ).

Song delivery is sometimes accompanied with wing-whirring (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close ).

Generally conspicuous and often confiding, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrants perch erectly, with their tails held down. Upon landing on a perch, adults may spread their wings and tail widely, occasionally for long periods (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close , 10 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Alarmed birds may nervously flick their tail (3 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant rarely flies long distances, but may cover 20-30 m when moving between perches. Most flights involve short sallies, after which they return to the same (or nearby) perch (H.F. Greeney, personal observation).

No information.

Territorial Behavior

This is apparently a rather territorial species (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close ), but this aspect of their natural history has not been well explored. During territorial disputes, adults make short, wobbling flights, and produce an audible whirring with their wings (4 Fjeldså, J., and N. K. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes. Apollo Books & Zoological Museum, Svendborg & Copenhagen. Close ).

Information needed.

Degree of Sociality

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant forages alone or in pairs (26 Olivares, A. (1969). Aves de Cundinamarca. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales & Dirección de Divulgación Cultural, Bogotá, Colombia. Close , 27 Koepcke, M. (1970). The Birds of the Department of Lima, Peru. Livingston, Publising Company, Wynnewood, PA, USA. Close ). Pairs may cover considerable distances while foraging (17 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (1994). The Birds of South America. Volume 2. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA. Close ), but may not closely associate with their mate while foraging (3 Hilty, S. L., and W. L. Brown (1986). A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ).

Information needed.

Despite several nests reported in the literature, as well as several published pictures of nests (28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close , 29 Miller, E. T. and H. F. Greeney (2008). Clarifying the nest architecture of the Silvicultrix clade of Ochthoeca chat-tyrants (Tyrannidae). Ornitología Neotropical 19:361–370. Close , 30 Londoño, G. A. (2014). Parque Nacional del Manu, Cusco, Perú: Anidación de Aves en un Gradiente Altitudinal. Rapid Color Guide 514 versión 1. The Field Museum, Chicago, IL, USA. Close ), the nesting biology of Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant remains rather poorly known. Nothing has been published concerning the behavior or appearance of nestlings, nor concerning adult behavior during nesting.

Little information. In northeastern Ecuador, Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant is said to nest from October to December (28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ). This is supported by eggs collected on 23 October by Kiff et al. (31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ).

One nest was built in a dense vine tangle hanging high over a dirt roadbank 1.5 m above the ground (31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ). Nests have also been found nestled withing clumps of grass along streams (28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ). No further information.

Form and Composition

The nest of Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant is a bulky cup of moss and grass, lined with soft, fluffy puya fibres (31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ) or animal wool (28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ).

Dimensions

The nest collected by Kiff et al. (31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ) measured: external diameter, 12 × 11.5 cm; external height, 8 cm; inner cup width, 5.5 cm; inner cup depth 4.5 cm.

The eggs of Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant have been described by several authors. Those described by Nehrkorn (32 Nehrkorn, A. (1899). Katalog der Eiersammlung. 1st edition. Harald Bruhn, Braunschweig, Germany. In German. Close ) are simply said to be from Colombia, and thus may refer to nominate fumicolor, ferruginea, or brunneifrons. Schönwetter (33 Schönwetter, M. (1979). Handbuch der Oologie. Band II (Passeriformes 1). Akademie Verlag, Berlin, Germany. Close ), however, referred to Nehrkorn's (32 Nehrkorn, A. (1899). Katalog der Eiersammlung. 1st edition. Harald Bruhn, Braunschweig, Germany. In German. Close ) eggs as being from the eastern Andes, suggesting they may be of nominate fumifrons. Those described by Oates and Reid (34 Oates, E. W., and S. G. Reid. (1903) Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume 3. British Museum, London. Close ) are most likely those collected by T. K. Salmon (5 Sclater, P. L., and O. Salvin (1879). On the birds collected by the late Mr. T. K. Salmon in the State of Antioquia, United States of Colombia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1879(3):486–550. Close ), and are thus referable to ferruginea. The measurments and descriptions provided by Schönwetter (33 Schönwetter, M. (1979). Handbuch der Oologie. Band II (Passeriformes 1). Akademie Verlag, Berlin, Germany. Close ) include both Nehrkorn's (32 Nehrkorn, A. (1899). Katalog der Eiersammlung. 1st edition. Harald Bruhn, Braunschweig, Germany. In German. Close ) and T. K. Salmon's (5 Sclater, P. L., and O. Salvin (1879). On the birds collected by the late Mr. T. K. Salmon in the State of Antioquia, United States of Colombia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1879(3):486–550. Close ) eggs. Those described by Kiff et al. (31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ) and Black M. (28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ) are of subspecies brunneifrons.

Shape

Short oval or short subelliptical (34 Oates, E. W., and S. G. Reid. (1903) Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume 3. British Museum, London. Close , 31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ).

Surface Texture

Slightly glossy (34 Oates, E. W., and S. G. Reid. (1903) Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume 3. British Museum, London. Close ).

Color

Egg descriptions are all rather similar: cream colored with few small, dark brown spots (32 Nehrkorn, A. (1899). Katalog der Eiersammlung. 1st edition. Harald Bruhn, Braunschweig, Germany. In German. Close ); cream colored and lightly "speckled with deep purplish brown" (34 Oates, E. W., and S. G. Reid. (1903) Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume 3. British Museum, London. Close ); white, with a few small reddish or red-brown spots (5 Sclater, P. L., and O. Salvin (1879). On the birds collected by the late Mr. T. K. Salmon in the State of Antioquia, United States of Colombia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1879(3):486–550. Close , 28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ); "creamy-white with a few scattered spots of rufous-brown and dark brown, mostly on the larger ends" (31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ).

Linear Dimensions

Egg dimensions have been reported several times in the literature: 19 × 15 mm (n = ?; 32 Nehrkorn, A. (1899). Katalog der Eiersammlung. 1st edition. Harald Bruhn, Braunschweig, Germany. In German. Close ); 19.1 × 15.2 mm (n = 2; 5 Sclater, P. L., and O. Salvin (1879). On the birds collected by the late Mr. T. K. Salmon in the State of Antioquia, United States of Colombia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1879(3):486–550. Close ); 19.3 × 14.0 mm, 19.8 × 15.2 mm (n = 2; 34 Oates, E. W., and S. G. Reid. (1903) Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume 3. British Museum, London. Close ); 21.5 × 12.8 (n = ?; 28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ); 19.46 × 15.12 mm, 20.24 × 15.74 mm (n = 2; 31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ); range 18.8–18.8 × 14.5–15.2 mm (33 Schönwetter, M. (1979). Handbuch der Oologie. Band II (Passeriformes 1). Akademie Verlag, Berlin, Germany. Close ).

Mass

The fresh mass of eggs given by Schönwetter (33 Schönwetter, M. (1979). Handbuch der Oologie. Band II (Passeriformes 1). Akademie Verlag, Berlin, Germany. Close ) was calculated (see 35 Maurer, C., D. G. D. Russell and P. Cassey (2010). Interpreting the lists and equations of egg dimensions in Schönwetter's Handbuch Der Oologie. Auk 127:940–947. Close ) based on the dimensions of the eggs collected by Nehrkorn (32 Nehrkorn, A. (1899). Katalog der Eiersammlung. 1st edition. Harald Bruhn, Braunschweig, Germany. In German. Close ) and Salmon (5 Sclater, P. L., and O. Salvin (1879). On the birds collected by the late Mr. T. K. Salmon in the State of Antioquia, United States of Colombia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1879(3):486–550. Close ): 2.18 g. Mass, measured directly, of Ecuadorian eggs (fresh?) is reported to be 2.7 g (n = ?; 28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ).

Empty Shell Weight

Two eggs (31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ): 0.115 g, 0.131 g.

In Ecuador, the incubation period is reported as 21 days (n = ?; 28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ). No further information.

No information on the process or timing of hatching. In Ecuador, the nestling period is reported to last 25 days (n = ?; 28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ).

Information needed.

Information needed.

No information, but considered unlikely.

No information, but unlikely due to the elevation at which Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant nests.

Information needed.

Information needed.

There is no information related to topics such as age at first breeding, life span and survivorship, dispersal, or population regulation for Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant.

Clutch Size

2 eggs (34 Oates, E. W., and S. G. Reid. (1903) Catalogue of the collection of birds' eggs in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume 3. British Museum, London. Close , 31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ).

Information needed.

Information needed.

Information needed.

Information needed.

Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant is considered fairly common to common in most portions of its range, but population sizes and trends have not been quantified.

Information needed.

Not globally threatened. The Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant has a large range is considered a species of Least Concern.

No effects of human activity on Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant have been directly measured, but burning and clearing of polylepis woodlands, for firewood and cattle grazing, are undoubtedly detrimentally impacting this species.

Protected Populations

Ochthoeca fumicolor fumicolor

Parque Nacional El Tamá (36 Vuilleumier, F. and Ewert, D.N. (1978). The distribution of birds in Venezuelan páramos. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 162(2): 47–90. Close ); Parque Nacional Natural Perijá (37 Ardila-Reyes, M. E., J. O. Rangl-Ch. and J. C. Rodríguez (2007). Avifauna de la alta montaña de Perijá. In Colombia Diversidad Biótica V: La alta montaña de la Serranía de Perijá (Rangl-Ch., J. O.), Instituto de Ciencias Naturales - CORPOCESAR, Bogotá, Colombia. pp. 203-220. Close , 38 Ellery, T. (2015). The Serranía del Perijá - an exciting new destination in Colombia. Neotrop. Birding 17: 58–67. Close ); Parque Nacional Natural El Cocuy (39 Olivares, A. (1973). Aves de la Sierra Nevada de Cocuy, Colombia. Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas, y Naturales 14:39–48. Close ); Reserva Biológica Carapanta (40 Andrade, G. I., M. L. Rosas, and A. Repizzo (1994). Notas preliminares sobre la avifauna y la integridad biológica de Carapanta. In Carpanta. Selva Nublada y Páramo (Andrade, G. I., Editor), Fundación Natura, Bogotá, Colombia. pp. 207–228. Close ); Parque Forestal Embalse del Neusa (41 Hernández, H. A. B., and J. I. B. Cataño (2018). Catálogo de Aves del Parque Forestal Embalse del Neusa. Editorial Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia. Close ); Bosque Protector de Bogotá (42 Peraza, C. A. (2011). Aves, Bosque Oriental de Bogotá Protective Forest Reserve, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Check List 7:57–63. Close ).

Ochthoeca fumicolor ferruginea

Reserva de Flora y Fauna Alto de Montefrío (43 Donegan, T.M., Avendaño, J.E., Huertas, B. and Flórez, P. (2009). Avifauna de San Pedro de los Milagros, Antioquia: una comparación entre colecciones antiguas y evaluaciones rápidas. Bol. Cient. Mus. Hist. Nat. Univ. Caldas 13(1): 63-72. In Spanish with English summary. Close ).

Ochthoeca fumicolor brunneifrons

Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados (44 Pfeifer, A. M., J. C. Verhelst, and J. E. Botero (2001). Estado de conservación de las aves del Parque Nacional Natural Los Nevados y su zona de amortiguación. Boletin de Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitología 12(22–23):21–41. Close ); Parque Nacional Llanganates (45 Benítez J., V., D. Sánchez and M. Larrea (2001). Evaluación ecológica rápida de la avifauna en el Parque Nacional Llanganates. In Biodiversidad en el Parque Nacional Llanganates: reporte de las evaluaciones ecológicas y socioeconómicas rápidas (Vázquez, M., M. Larrea and L. Suárez), Ecociencia, Herbario Nacional del Ecuador, Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales, Instituto Internacional de Reconstrucción Rural, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Quito, Ecuador. pp. 67–107. Close ); Parque Nacional Cayambe-Coca (31 Kiff, L.F., Marín, M., Sibley, F.C., Matheus, J.C. and Schmitt, N.J. (1989). Notes on the nests and eggs of some Ecuadorian birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club. 109(1): 25–31. Close ); Parque Nacional Las Cajas (46 Astudillo, P. X., B. A. Tinoco, and D. C. Siddons (2015). The avifauna of Cajas National Park and Mazán Reserve, southern Ecuador, with notes on new records. Cotinga 37:2–12. Close ); Reserva Ecológico Antisana (28 Black-M., J. (1982). Los páramos del Antisana. Revista Geográfica 17:25–51. Close ); Reserva Biológico Guandera (47 Cresswell, W., Mellanby, R., Bright, S., Catry, P., Chaves, J., Freile, J., Gabela, A., Hughes, M., Martineau, H., MacLeod, R., McPhee, F., Anderson, N., Holt, S., Barabas, S., Chapel, C. and Sánchez, S. (1999). Birds of the Guandera Biological Reserve, Carchi Province, north-east Ecuador. Cotinga. 11: 55-63. Close ); Santuario Nacional Tabaconas-Namballe (48 Amanzo, J. (2003). Evaluación Biológica Rápida del Santuario Nacional Tabaconas-Namballe y Zonas Aledañas. Informe WWF-OPP: QM-91. World Wildlife Fund, Lima, Peru. Close ).

Ochthoeca fumicolor berlepschi

Parque Nacional Tunari (49 Balderrama, J.A. (2006). Diversidad, endemismo y conservación de la ornitofauna del Parque Nacional Tunari (Cochabamba, Bolivia). Ecol. Bolivia 41(2): 149-170. In Spanish with English summary. Close ); Parque Nacional Manú (50 Walker, B., D. F. Stotz, T. Pequeño, and J. W. Fitzpatrick (2006). Birds of the Manu Biosphere Reserve. In Mammals and Birds of the Manu Biosphere Reserve, Peru (B. D. Patterson, D. F. Stotz, and S. Solari, Editors). Fieldiana: Zoology, Chicago, IL, USA. pp. 23–49. Close , 30 Londoño, G. A. (2014). Parque Nacional del Manu, Cusco, Perú: Anidación de Aves en un Gradiente Altitudinal. Rapid Color Guide 514 versión 1. The Field Museum, Chicago, IL, USA. Close ); Santuario Histórico Machu Picchu (51 Walker, B. and J. Fjeldså (2002). Field guide to the birds of Machu Picchu, Peru (2nd Edition). Fondo Nacional para Areas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado (PROFONANPE) y Programa Machu Picchu, Lima, Peru. Close ).

As a bird of the high Andean paramo, brown deserves special conservation consideration, in the form of studies examining the effects of wide-spread burning and conversion of Andean habitats for grazing. Its basic natural history, especially diet and nesting, are poorly known, and knowledge of both will be key for planning conservation actions.

The PBNHS continues to support the field work of HFG in Ecuador and elsewhere. He also thanks the Association of Field Ornithologists for a Pamela and Alexander F. Skutch Research Award, Matt E. Kaplan and John V. Moore for generous contributions to the Population Biology, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation for the award of a fellowship, and the staff and guests of the Yanayacu Biological Station & Center for Creative Studies for their help in the field.

HAROLD F. GREENEY – After graduating from Wake Forest University (BSc, 1993; Commission 2^nd Lieutenant, US Army Reserves), Harold hopped a plane to Ecuador and disappeared for a year into the jungle. For a full year he worked as a jungle guide at a remote tourist lodge in the Ecuadorian Amazon, using his spare time to study the life history and population ecology of butterflies. In 1994 he joined the graduate program in entomology at the University of Arizona, spending most of the next five years exploring tropical nature in Ecuador, concentrating his studies on the aquatic insects associated with bromeliads and other container habitats in the Amazon. During his trips back to the United States, Harold fulfilled his army obligations by serving as a Platoon Leader in the Army Reserves and leading convoy security teams during battlefield training of the 4^th Infantry Division in southern California’s National Training Center. In 1999, armed with a Masters in entomology, binoculars, a butterfly net, and a notebook, Harold sold his worldly possessions and purchased a small piece of property in the cloud forests of eastern Ecuador. Subsisting on a modest garden, trout caught in the nearby river, and the chickens that came with the purchase, Harold lived in a semi-waterproof house with no electricity or running water and immersed himself in tropical biology. This bold move was the first step in pursuing his dream of creating a biological research station. A decade and a half later, as founder, owner, and director of research of the Yanayacu Biological Station and Center for Creative Studies, he had never once wavered in his quest, sharing his passion for art, creative writing, and science with numerous national and foreign students along the way. During this time he fell in love with the study of bird nests and the prolific publishing of his findings in scientific journals was recognized by the ornithological community through the prestigious Pamela & Alexander F. Skutch Award in 2005. His interest in insects, however, was undiminished and much of his time was also dedicated to publishing studies on caterpillars as part of a multi-national collaborative project funded by the National Science Foundation. In 2008, already with more than 100 peer-reviewed papers under his belt, Harold completed a PhD in ornithology through the University of Wroclaw. In 2013 he left his cloud forest home to begin a family closer to his US-based relatives. Then, in 2015, with the support of a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, Harold began writing the Helm Field Guide to Antpittas and Gnateaters (52 Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Harold currently lives in Tucson, with his wife Lindsey Cohen and three children, Phoenix, River, and Tamia.