Photo: Jerry Oldenettel / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mistletoe Tyrannulet
Zimmerius parvus
Mistletoe Tyrannulet (Zimmerius parvus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet (Zimmerius parvus) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 9.7 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 Zimmerius
- Species parvus
Where it lives
Northeastern Guatemala and Belize to extreme northwestern Colombia
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet 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 Mistletoe Tyrannulet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet (Zimmerius parvus) belongs to the Tyrannidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA ne Guatemala and Belize to extreme nw Colombia.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.7 g, with a wing length of about 4.9 cm and a tail of around 4 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 224,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mistletoe Tyrannulet?
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet is a very small bird that weighs around 9.7 g.
Where does the Mistletoe Tyrannulet live?
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA ne Guatemala and Belize to extreme nw Colombia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Mistletoe Tyrannulet belong to?
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet (Zimmerius parvus) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Mistletoe Tyrannulet eat?
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Mistletoe Tyrannulet migrate?
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mistletoe 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 Mistletoe Tyrannulet make?
1 real field recording of the Mistletoe Tyrannulet — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mistletoe Tyrannulet's range?
The Mistletoe Tyrannulet has a mapped global range of about 224,000 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.