Black-throated Tody-Tyrant illustration
Birdsong field guide

Black-throated Tody-Tyrant

Hemitriccus granadensis

A small, secretive tyrant flycatcher of the Andean highlands, recognized by its olive-green plumage and dusky, soot-colored throat.

What it sounds like

A dry, mechanical, descending rattle or trill, often transcribed as 'tr-r-r-r-r-it' or 'drrrrrrit'.

Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Rec. Manuel Sánchez-Nivicela · EcuadorCC BY-NC-NDXeno-canto

Field notes

  • It belongs to the genus Hemitriccus, a group of 'tody-tyrants' named for their physical resemblance to the Caribbean todies.
  • The species is known for its 'upward-hover-glean' foraging style, snatching insects from the undersides of leaves in quick bursts.
  • It is highly associated with Chusquea bamboo thickets and dense secondary growth in the understory of montane forests.
  • There are seven recognized subspecies across its range, showing variations in the intensity of the blackish face and throat markings.
  • Despite its name, the 'black' throat is often a dark charcoal or dusky gray that fades into a paler belly.
Habitat
Humid montane forests, cloud forest edges, and elfin forests, typically at elevations between 1,800 and 3,300 meters.
Range
The Andes mountains from Venezuela and Colombia south through Ecuador and Peru to northern Bolivia.

Similar & commonly confused birds

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