Dark-faced ground tyrant

The dark-faced ground tyrant (Muscisaxicola maclovianus) is a small passerine bird belonging to the tyrant flycatcher family. It is a ground-dwelling bird that breeds in the southern Andes region and the Falkland Islands. It feeds on small invertebrates such as flies and moths.

Dark-faced ground tyrant
near Lago Escondido, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae
Genus: Muscisaxicola
Species:
M. maclovianus
Binomial name
Muscisaxicola maclovianus
(Garnot, 1829)

Description

It is 16 cm long with the male being slightly larger than the female. Like other ground tyrants, it has long legs and an upright posture. The plumage is mainly dark grey-brown above and pale greyish below with a dark brown crown and a blackish face. The rump and tail are black with white outer tail-feathers. The legs and bill are black. Birds on the Falkland Islands (M. m. maclovianus) are larger and greyer than those in mainland South America (M. m. mentalis).

The song is a weak twittering which may be uttered on the ground or in flight.

Habitat and range

The species breeds in southern parts of Chile and Argentina and on the Falkland Islands. It inhabits open areas from sea-level up to 1500 m in the Andes. In the austral winter some birds migrate north as far as Uruguay, northern Argentina and Peru. At this season it moves down to lowland areas and may visit farmland, gardens and beaches.

Reproduction

The nest is placed among rocks and is made of grass and root fibres with a lining of wool or feathers. The two or three eggs are white with red-brown spots. Two broods are probably raised during the breeding season.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Muscisaxicola maclovianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Jaramillo, Alvaro; Burke, Peter & Beadle, David (2003) Field Guide to the Birds of Chile, Christopher Helm, London
  • Woods, Robin W. (1988) Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands, Anthony Nelson, Oswestry
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