Photo: Nicolas Huet / Jean Gabriel Prêtre / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Strange-tailed Tyrant
Alectrurus risora
Strange-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus risora) — 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 Strange-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus risora) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 21 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 risora
Quick facts
- Weight
- 21 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Strange-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 Strange-tailed Tyrant is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Strange-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus risora) is a member of the Tyrannidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA s Paraguay, ne Argentina and Uruguay.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 21 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 15.6 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 99,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Strange-tailed Tyrant?
The Strange-tailed Tyrant is a small bird that weighs around 21 g.
Where does the Strange-tailed Tyrant live?
The Strange-tailed Tyrant is found across South America with a range covering SA s Paraguay, ne Argentina and Uruguay, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Strange-tailed Tyrant belong to?
The Strange-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus risora) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Strange-tailed Tyrant eat?
The Strange-tailed Tyrant is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Strange-tailed Tyrant migrate?
The Strange-tailed Tyrant is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Strange-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 Strange-tailed Tyrant make?
1 real field recording of the Strange-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 Strange-tailed Tyrant's range?
The Strange-tailed Tyrant has a mapped global range of about 99,000 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
More in Songbirds
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
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.