- Arundinicola leucocephala
Identification
12·5–13 cm (4¾-5¼ in)
Male
- Blackish-brown overall plumage
- Upper chest and most of head (except rear) white
- Lower mandible yellow
Female
- Pale grey upperparts (wings and tail darker - these areas can sometimes look quite brown)
- Forecrown, sides of head, and underparts white
- Breast has a few indistinct greyish streaks
- Head is rounded
Similar species
Female most likely to be confused with immature Pied Water Tyrant.
Distribution
Asia: found in Trinidad and north Colombia to the Guianas and east of Andes to Bolivia, Uruguay, and southeast Brazil.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Freshwater marshes ponds and damp grassy areas. Also along river banks.
Behaviour
Diet
Their diet consists almost entirely of insects, caught in flight sallies from a post or branch.
Vocalisation
Usually quiet.
Call a high-pitched tzeek.
Breeding
The nest is a feather-lined oval ball of grasses and other plant material, with a side entrance. It is placed at the end of a branch near or over water. The clutch consists of 2-3 brown spotted, creamy-white eggs. They are incubated by both adults.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2016)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2021) White-headed Marsh Tyrant. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 14 May 2021 from https://www.birdforum.net/wiki/White-headed_Marsh_Tyrant
External Links
