Photo: joel rosenthal from miami, florida, usa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Andean Negrito
Lessonia oreas
Andean Negrito (Lessonia oreas) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Andean Negrito (Lessonia oreas) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 13.8 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 Lessonia
- Species oreas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 13.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Andean Negrito is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Andean Negrito is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Andean Negrito (Lessonia oreas) belongs to the Tyrannidae family of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA Peru to nw Argentina.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 13.8 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 4.9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 832,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Andean Negrito?
The Andean Negrito is a very small bird that weighs around 13.8 g.
Where does the Andean Negrito live?
The Andean Negrito is found across South America with a range covering SA Peru to nw Argentina, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Andean Negrito belong to?
The Andean Negrito (Lessonia oreas) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Andean Negrito eat?
The Andean Negrito is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Andean Negrito migrate?
The Andean Negrito is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Andean Negrito 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 Andean Negrito make?
1 real field recording of the Andean Negrito — 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 Andean Negrito's range?
The Andean Negrito has a mapped global range of about 832,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Tyrannidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
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.