Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant vs Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant

In short

The Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant and the Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant can be distinguished by their facial patterns and underpart coloration. The Cinnamon-bellied has a dark back with a blackish forehead and face, while the Black-fronted features a distinctive white blaze on the supralores and a broad blackish forehead. Underparts are cinnamon in the former and whitish in the latter.

Identification tips

• Facial pattern: Look for the white blaze on the supralores of the Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant, contrasting with its blackish forehead. The Cinnamon-bellied lacks this blaze and has a more uniformly dark face.
• Underparts color: Cinnamon-bellied has cinnamon underparts, while Black-fronted has whitish underparts.
• Crown and nape: Cinnamon-bellied has a rusty crown patch; Black-fronted has a chestnut nape.

Size

Both species are similar in size, typical of ground-tyrants, with no significant size difference noted.

Plumage

The Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant has a dark back and a blackish face with a rusty crown patch, while the Black-fronted Ground-Tyrant has grayish upperparts with a bluish tone and a striking white blaze on the supralores, contrasting with its blackish forehead and chestnut nape.

Behaviour

Both species exhibit similar ground-foraging behavior typical of ground-tyrants, often seen on open terrain.

Habitat

Both species inhabit open, often high-altitude areas, but specific habitat preferences are not detailed in the sources.