Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant
Myiornis atricapillus
Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant (Myiornis atricapillus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant (Myiornis atricapillus) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 5.7 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 Myiornis
- Species atricapillus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant (Myiornis atricapillus) is a species of bird in the Tyrannidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Costa Rica to nw Ecuador.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 5.7 g, with a wing length of about 3.5 cm and a tail of around 1.6 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 184,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant?
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant is a very small bird that weighs around 5.7 g.
Where does the Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant live?
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Costa Rica to nw Ecuador, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant belong to?
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant (Myiornis atricapillus) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant eat?
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant migrate?
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant 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 Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant make?
1 real field recording of the Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant — 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 Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant's range?
The Black-capped Pygmy Tyrant has a mapped global range of about 184,000 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
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
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.