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*MISTLETOE [PALTRY] TYRANNULET  Zimmerius [vilissimus] parvus 9.5–

10.5cm. Widespread in humid forest edge, semi-open areas with scattered trees,

hedgerows, open woodland, gardens; especially with mistletoe. Low to high,

regularly in canopy; often perches with tail slightly cocked. Plucks berries and

snatches insects with short flits. Best detected (and identified) by call; also note

yellow wing edgings (not wingbars), stubby dark bill, whitish eyebrow. Cf.

appreciably larger Sclater’s Flatbill, Colombian Elaenia. Comprises 2 vocal

groups that may represent species: Northern Mistletoe Tyrannulet Z. [p.]

undescribed in north (to 1200m); Southern Mistletoe Tyrannulet Z. [p.] parvus

in south (to 3000m). SOUNDS: Northern: overslurred, relatively loud whistled

peeéu, often repeated steadily. Song a relatively quick, slightly rolled chew’dl-it, or

tyeeu chi-ti, with a flourish. Southern: slightly plaintive peeyíp, sharply rising and

overslurred at the end. Song a slower, more measured, mellow teuw tew tew tew

or dyew di-di-dit. STATUS: Fairly common to common. Details of distribution for

the 2 vocal types await elucidation. (Belize to nw. Colombia.)

YELLOW-CROWNED TYRANNULET  Tyrannulus elatus 10–10.5cm. Second

growth, hedgerows, semi-open areas with taller trees and forest patches. Singles or

pairs, typically perching rather upright at mid–upper levels; makes short sallies for

berries and insects. Note stubby bill, flattish head with blackish crown and yellow

median stripe (usually visible), distinct whitish wingbars, voice. Juv. duller overall,

lacks yellow crown stripe, wingbars buffy; soon like adult. SOUNDS: Distinctive,

measured, mellow double whistle given throughout day, wheéh peeu, 2nd note

slightly higher, overslurred. STATUS: Uncommon on s. Pacific slope, to 1200m;

spreading n. with deforestation. (Costa Rica to S America.)

*COLOMBIAN [GREENISH] ELAENIA  Myiopagis [viridicata] accola 13–

14cm. Humid woodland and edge, second growth; usually not in denser humid

forest. Mainly at mid–upper levels where perches fairly vertically and quietly for

long periods. Forages with short sallies, plucking insects and berries. Distinctive

but relatively plain, with short whitish brow, weak wing markings, narrow bill;

yellow crown patch usually concealed. Juv. duller, with dull buffy wingbars,

lacks crown patch. SOUNDS: Downslurred, high burry tsiéuhr and overslurred

variants. Dawn song comprises upslurred and downslurred burry whistles,

repeated and alternated every 1–5 secs, t’seéu, seeyu, t’seéu, t’seéu, seeyu, t’seéu,

seeyu.…STATUS: Uncommon to scarce on Pacific slope, locally on Caribbean

slope, to 1500m. (Nicaragua to nw. S America.)

RUFOUS-BROWED TYRANNULET  Phylloscartes superciliaris 10.5–11.5cm.

Attractive, rather perky little flycatcher of humid foothill forest canopy and

subcanopy. Hops and sallies rather like a warbler, often cocks tail or lifts one

wing at a time; joins mixed flocks. Face pattern distinctive, although rufous

brow can be difficult to see; also note yellowish wing edgings (no distinct wing­

bars), long tail. Juv. has olive crown, little or no rufous in face. SOUNDS: Slightly

squeaky, nasal to sibilant sweik, singly or in short series. Song a descending,

slightly sibilant rippling twitter, about 1 sec, sometimes preceded by sweik! calls.

STATUS:  Uncommon to locally fairly common on Caribbean slope, mainly

600–1200m. (Costa Rica to nw. S America.)

WHITE-FRONTED (ROUGH-LEGGED) TYRANNULET  Phyllomyias zele­

doni 11–12cm. Scarce small flycatcher of humid highland forest. Mainly at

mid–upper levels, sallying actively in outer foliage; often flicks wings between

sallies. Cf. much commoner Mistletoe Tyrannulet, which differs in posture, dark

bill, wing pattern, voice. Juv. browner above with little gray on head, belly

tinged buff. SOUNDS: High, slightly piercing or sibilant whistles. High, shrill,

overslurred sseeíh, can be repeated steadily; also slightly descending series of

4–10 sseeíh notes, 2–3/sec. Song (?) comprises drawn-out overslurred pssiéeh and

siéh-sieh phrases repeated and alternated. STATUS: Scarce to uncommon and local

on both slopes, mainly 1500–3200m, locally down to 600m in north. (Costa

Rica to nw. S America.)

Northern

Southern