Austral Negrito vs Cinereous Tyrant
Lessonia rufa versus Knipolegus striaticeps
Play a quiz with Austral Negrito and Cinereous Tyrant
Austral Negrito
Cinereous Tyrant
In short
The Austral Negrito and Cinereous Tyrant are both small, dark flycatchers, but they differ in plumage and habitat. The Austral Negrito males are black with a rufous back, while the Cinereous Tyrant males are black with red irides and gray wingbars. Habitat preferences also help distinguish them, with the Austral Negrito found in southern South America and the Cinereous Tyrant in northern Argentina and surrounding areas.
Identification tips
1. Look for the rufous back in male Austral Negritos, absent in Cinereous Tyrants. 2. Note the red irides and gray wingbars in male Cinereous Tyrants. 3. Consider the habitat: Austral Negritos are more southern, while Cinereous Tyrants are found further north. 4. Observe behavior: Cinereous Tyrants often twitch their tails and are seen in pairs.
Size
Both species are small passerines, but there is no significant size difference noted between them.
Plumage
Male Austral Negritos are black with a rufous back, while female Austral Negritos are dull grayish brown. Male Cinereous Tyrants are black with red irides, two gray wingbars, and gray outer webs on the outer tail feathers. Female Cinereous Tyrants are olive-brown above with rufous on the crown, nape, and uppertail coverts, and have two white wingbars.
Behaviour
Cinereous Tyrants are often seen alone or in pairs, actively twitching their tails and gleaning insects from bush and tree tops. There is no specific behavior noted for Austral Negritos that distinguishes them from Cinereous Tyrants.
Habitat
Austral Negritos are found in southern South America, while Cinereous Tyrants inhabit northern Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and southwestern Brazil below 1000 meters in elevation.