PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:
The Cinnamon Flycatcher is described as fairly common to common, and is it usually widespread in montane forest. The species also occurs in several protected reserves throughout the large range. It is able to adapt to modified habitats and can be seen is partially deforested areas.
The population size is unknown, but it is suspected to be stable.
The Cinnamon Flycatcher is not globally threatened, and currently evaluated as Least Concern.
Fr: Moucherolle cannelle
Ang: Cinnamon Flycatcher
All: Zimttyrann
Esp: Birro Chico
Ita: Pigliamosche cannella
Nd: Kaneeltiran
Sd: kaneltyrann
Photographer:
Roger Ahlman
Pbase Galleries Peru and Ecuador
Text by Nicole Bouglouan
Sources:
HANDBOOK OF THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD Vol 9 - by Josep del Hoyo - Andrew Elliot - David Christie - Lynx Edicions - ISBN: 8487334695
A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF COLOMBIA by Steven L. Hilty and William L. Brown - Princeton University Press – ISBN 069108372X
BIRDS OF SOUTH AMERICA – Passerines - by Robert S. Ridgely and Guy Tudor – HELM Field Guides – ISBN: 9781408113424
BIRDS OF PERU by Thomas S. Schulenberg, Douglas F. Stotz, Daniel F. Lane, John P. O’Neill, Theodore A. Parker III–Princeton University Press 2007– ISBN: 978-0-691-13023-1
BIRDS OF VENEZUELA by Steven L. Hilty – Ed. Christopher Helm – ISBN: 0713664185
Birds of Ecuador De Robin Restall, Juan Freile - Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019 – ISBN: 147297249X, 9781472972491 - 576 pages
Birds of Western Ecuador: A Photographic Guide Par Nick Athanas, Paul J. Greenfield – Editeur: Princeton University Press, 2016 – ISBN: 140088070X, 9781400880706
SORA - The biology of the Cinnamon Flycatcher - Pyrrhomyias cinnamomea - in Venezuela
Arthur Grosset's Birds (Arthur Grosset)
Neotropical Birds – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre
Cinnamon Flycatcher
Pyrrhomyias cinnamomeus
Passeriformes Order – Tyrannidae Family
INTRODUCTION:
The Cinnamon Flycatcher is usually common and conspicuous in the Andean cloud forests. This species occurs in South America, from N Venezuela to NW Argentina, between 1,200 and 3,000 metres of elevation. It frequents the shrubby edges of both foothill and montane forests and woodlands.
It is an insect-eater, but it also consumes some berries. It typically performs short sallies into the air to pursue and catch flying insects, before returning to the same perch. It nests in an open cup-shaped structure placed in crevice or on ledge, a few metres above the ground.
The Cinnamon Flycatcher is not globally threatened. It is adaptable to modified habitats such as partially deforested areas.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BIRD:
Biometrics:
Length:
11-13 cm
Weight: 10,5-11 g
The Cinnamon Flycatcher of nominate race has olive-brown upperparts, but the rump is mostly pale cinnamon, with often hidden orange band. The upperwing is blackish with two rufous wingbars. There is a large rufous panel on secondaries, formed by the edges of the flight-feathers. The tail is blackish.
The underparts are cinnamon-rufous, including throat and neck sides. The belly may appear slightly paler.
On the head, the crown is dark brownish, and there is a semi-concealed yellow coronal patch. Supraloral patch and eyering are tinged buffy. Cheek and nape are olive-brown.
The fairly broad bill is black. The eyes are dark brown. Legs and feet are blackish.
Male and female are similar.
The juvenile has browner plumage and the yellow coronal patch is absent. On the upperparts, lower back and tail feathers have ochraceous tips.
SUBSPECIES AND RANGE:
The Cinnamon Flycatcher has six subspecies. These races form three groups:
P.c. assimilis occurs in Santa Marta in N Colombia where it is isolated.
This race is brighter and warmer above and below. It is the most cinnamon of all races.
P.c. vieillotioides is found in NW and N Venezuela.
This one has reddish-brown crown, rufescent-brown back becoming olive on upper rump above the orange band, rufous webbing in rectrices, duller breast and some rufous edging at primaries’ bases.
P.c. spadix is found in mountains of NE Venezuela.
This one is similar to the previous.
P.c. pariae occurs in Paria Peninsula in NE Venezuela.
It is also similar to both previous races.
P.c. pyrrhopterus is found in Sierra de Perijá and Andes of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
This race resembles nominate, but it has the crown washed olive. The back is olive and the rump band is brighter orange-yellow.
P.c. cinnamomeus (described above) occurs in E Andes of E Peru, Bolivia and NW Argentina.
HABITAT:
The Cinnamon Flycatcher is one of the most common Tyrannidae in highlands. It frequents humid and wet forest borders, woody clearings and small forest openings, from the foothills to the temperate zone. It can be found from 1,200 to 3,000 metres of elevation.
CALLS AND SONGS: SOUNDS BY XENO-CANTO
The most common call of the Cinnamon Flycatcher is a low-pitched, flat rattle “tr-r-r-r-r-r-r” and we can also hear a short, dry, sputtered trill “pit, pit-pit-pit-pit” when the bird is disturbed. The calls also include thin “tip” and “tchew” notes.
BEHAVIOUR IN THE WILD:
The Cinnamon Flycatcher is an insect-eater, but some berries are consumed too. It hunts alone or in pairs, usually from perch on exposed branch. It typically sallies into the air to pursue and catch flying insects before returning to the same perch. It may join mixed-species groups, but it does not follow them. It hunts mainly at forest edge but not at treetops, using mainly aerial hawking.
The Cinnamon Flycatcher can be seen in pairs often perched between 3 and 15 metres above the ground. They are constantly vocalising.
The cup-shaped nest is often built in crevice or on ledge, up to 5 metres above the ground. The nest-site is strongly defended by both mates. During aggressive encounters, the usually hidden yellow coronal patch is conspicuously displayed.
The Cinnamon Flycatcher is highly sedentary and mostly resident in most of the range.
It performs short, rapid, sometimes vertical sallies from perch when hunting. It usually flies over short distances.
REPRODUCTION OF THIS SPECIES:
The breeding season takes place mainly in April-May in N Venezuela.
The Cinnamon Flycatcher builds an open cup, a very typical nest in Tyrannidae. This small structure is often placed on mossy ledge or rock outcrop on almost vertical bank of trail or roadside. It is made with mosses, leaves, twigs, lichens and spider webs. The cup is usually lined with grasses, rootlets and some feathers. The nest is very cryptic and almost invisible among the vegetation. The same nest-site is used year after year and both mates defend it.
The female lays 2 white eggs with reddish-brown spots at the larger end. Both adults share the incubation during 17-21 days. The parents remove immediately the egg-shells. At hatching, the chicks have short, dense tawny down. They are growing slowly over nearly three weeks until they fledge, when they are able to perform short flights from the nest. The adults feed them with insects during some weeks, usually five weeks.
