Hangnest Tody-Tyrant Hemitriccus nidipendulus Scientific name definitions

Found from the state of Sergipe south to São Paulo, the evocatively named Hangnest Tody-Tyrant is endemic to coastal eastern Brazil and the Atlantic Forest biome, where its wide range and general abundance have, to some extent, insulated the species from the dramatic and devastating habitat destruction that has placed the futures of many biota in the balance. The Hangnest Tody-Tyrant is relatively easily separated from other tody-tyrants within its range using plumage characters; its upperparts are a uniform greenish-yellow, there is a pale loral mark, and the underparts are rather clean white, while the species’ irides are prominently and distinctively pale, at least in adults. The species unsurprisingly takes its name from the domed, pyrifrom nest that is suspended from a narrow branch, although its basic form and structure are actually copied by the vast majority, if not all, of the Hangnest Tody-Tyrant’s congeners.

9·5–10 cm; 7·2–8 g. Crown, face and upperparts are bright olive-green, lores somewhat more yellowish; wings and tail olive, distinct yellow edging on wing coverts and flight feathers; throat and underparts white, breast and, especially, flanks with faint grayish-olive streaks; iris creamy white; bill brown, base of lower mandible grayish pink; tarsi light gray. Sexes alike. Subspecies paulistus is slightly larger and has longer tail than nominate.

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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.