Family Tyrant-flycatchers (Tyrannidae)
Least Concern
Spectacled Tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus)
Taxonomy
French: Ada clignot German: Brillendunkeltyrann Spanish: Viudita picoplata
Taxonomy:
Motacilla perspicillata
J. F. Gmelin
, 1789,Montevideo, Uruguay
.Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution
H. p. perspicillatus
(J. F. Gmelin, 1789) – extreme SE Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) and Uruguay S in lowlands to CS Argentina (Río Negro); winters in Paraguay, C Bolivia and S Brazil.
H. p. andinus
(Ridgway, 1879) – C Chile (Atacama S to Los Lagos; sparsely farther S in W Andes) and S Argentina (W Río Negro, Chubut, N Santa Cruz); winters in N Argentina.
Descriptive notes
13–16 cm. Distinctive, with prominent greenish-tinged yellow fleshy wattle around eye. Male is black overall; primaries mostly white with black base and tips (visible... read more
Voice
Usually silent. Male utters a series of thin, squeaky notes; during display, male utters “zheeeee... read more
Habitat
Marshes, grassy or shrubby areas, rivers, open lands, and fields and pastures near water; sea-level... read more
Food and feeding
Insects. In a study in the SE Pampas region food items brought to nestlings were basically insects (94%), but also spiders (Araneidae,... read more
Breeding
Oct–Jan in Argentina and Nov–Jan in Chile. During spectacular display, male rises up to 10 m above perch, making loud bill-snap... read more
Movements
Partial migrant; some populations in S Paraguay apparently resident. After breeding, nominate race... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common to common. Abundant near coastal marshes in S Buenos Aires (Argentina) in Apr. Fairly common in Los Glaciares National... read more
Distribution map
Status and conservation reads: "Fairly common in Los Glaciares National Park, in Argentina". The contributions map confirms this, and I have personally observed it at Laguna Nimez near Calafate in breeding season (December). However, the distribution map does not reflect this, as its range stops further north.