Drab-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant Hemitriccus diops Scientific name definitions

An Atlantic Forest endemic, the Drab-breasted Pygmy-Tyrant is a common bird in appropriate habitat—humid forest and tall second growth, usually with plenty of bamboo—but can be frustratingly difficult to see. The birds call frequently but at irregular intervals, and rarely venture forth in response to playback, making spotting one a matter of some luck and patience, waiting to see a movement. This pygmy-tyrant, which is distributed from southeast Brazil south to eastern Paraguay and northeast Argentina, is well named; generally olive above and drab grayish below, it possesses few distinguishing features, although there is an obvious pale loral spot. The species rarely joins mixed-species flocks, although if one passes through the bird’s territory, the pygmy-tyrant may be ‘stirred’ into greater activity!