Spectacled Tyrannulet Zimmerius improbus

Spectacled Tyrannulet is a poorly studied but common small flycatcher of middle elevations of northeastern Colombia and western Venezuela. It feeds on small fruits and insects, and is found at all strata in forested habitats. Spectacled Tyrannulet is readily identified by its small size and its distinctive wing markings: the olive green secondaries feathers are edged in yellow except towards the base, with a wide leading edge, forming a contrastingly bright patch of yellow. The combination of a supercilium and arcs under the eye give this species a spectacled appearance. This species also has been called Specious Tyrannulet and Mountain Tyrannulet in other published literature. Formerly, Spectacled Tyrannulet was classified as a subspecies of a very widespread, polytypic species, Paltry Tyrannulet Zimmerius vilissimus. Now this complex is recognized as four separate species; in addition to Spectacled Tyrannulet, these are Guatemalan Tyrannulet (Zimmerius vilissimus), Mistletoe Tyrannulet (Zimmerius parvus), and Venezuelan Tyrannulet (Zimmerius petersi).