Photo: ....Christopher Borges.... / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Cock-tailed Tyrant
Alectrurus tricolor
Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 16 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Alectrurus
- Species tricolor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 16 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Cock-tailed Tyrant is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Cock-tailed Tyrant is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor) is a member of the Tyrannidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA n Bolivia, Paraguay and se Brazil.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 16 g, with a wing length of about 6.8 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Cock-tailed Tyrant?
The Cock-tailed Tyrant is a small bird that weighs around 16 g.
Where does the Cock-tailed Tyrant live?
The Cock-tailed Tyrant is found across South America with a range covering SA n Bolivia, Paraguay and se Brazil, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Cock-tailed Tyrant belong to?
The Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Cock-tailed Tyrant eat?
The Cock-tailed Tyrant is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Cock-tailed Tyrant migrate?
The Cock-tailed Tyrant is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Cock-tailed Tyrant endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Cock-tailed Tyrant make?
1 real field recording of the Cock-tailed 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 Cock-tailed Tyrant's range?
The Cock-tailed Tyrant has a mapped global range of about 1 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
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.