Phylloscartes superciliaris
Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The rufous-browed tyrannulet (Phylloscartes superciliaris) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, and possibly Peru. The rufous-browed tyrannulet was originally described in 1868 as Leptotriccus superciliaris. It was later transferred to genus Mecocerculus and then to its present genus Phylloscartes. Though relationships among members of Phylloscartes have not been fully resolved, it appears that the rufous-browed tyrannulet's closest relatives are the rufous-lored tyrannulet (P. flaviventris) and the cinnamon-faced tyrannulet (P. parkeri).
However, "their validity has been questioned ". The rufous-browed tyrannulet is 9.5 to 12 cm (3.7 to 4.7 in) long; three individuals weighed 7 to 9 g (0.25 to 0.32 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. The forecrown and lores of nominate adults are bright chestnut that extends to the rear as a thin supercilium... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 2 | Arenal Volcano National Park | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | |
| 3 | La Amistad International Park (Panama) | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 4 | Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-browed Tyrannulet sighting in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, based on 127 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 351st most-seen of the 503 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, and over a week to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-browed Tyrannulet in Arenal Volcano National Park on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Rufous-browed Tyrannulet sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Rufous-browed Tyrannulet sightings, Arenal Volcano National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park (Costa Rica, under 5%).
Same family: Tyrannidae
The closest relatives of the Rufous-browed Tyrannulet that you can see in Arenal Volcano National Park (family Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers) are Great Kiskadee (about 70%), Social Flycatcher (about 50%) and Tropical Kingbird (about 50%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rufous-browed Tyrannulet is recorded against all the birds logged in Arenal Volcano National Park (127 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
