Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-crested Tyrannulet
Serpophaga subcristata
White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 6.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Serpophaga
- Species subcristata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.6 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-crested Tyrannulet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-crested Tyrannulet is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata) is a member of the Tyrannidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Bolivia and s Brazil to c Argentina and Uruguay.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.6 g, with a wing length of about 4.8 cm and a tail of around 4.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-crested Tyrannulet?
The White-crested Tyrannulet is a very small bird that weighs around 6.6 g.
Where does the White-crested Tyrannulet live?
The White-crested Tyrannulet is found across South America with a range covering SA Bolivia and s Brazil to c Argentina and Uruguay, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the White-crested Tyrannulet belong to?
The White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the White-crested Tyrannulet eat?
The White-crested Tyrannulet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-crested Tyrannulet migrate?
The White-crested Tyrannulet is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the White-crested Tyrannulet endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-crested Tyrannulet make?
1 real field recording of the White-crested Tyrannulet — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-crested Tyrannulet's range?
The White-crested Tyrannulet has a mapped global range of about 5.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Tyrannidae
A field guide to the Tyrannidae family — 444 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.