Euscarthmus meloryphus
Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic
In 3 days <5% in a week ~10%
The fulvous-crowned scrub tyrant, or tawny-crowned pygmy-tyrant, (Euscarthmus meloryphus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
What is now the fulvous-faced scrub tyrant (E. fulviceps) was previously a third subspecies; the full species at that time was called the tawny-crowned pygmy tyrant. Following the split most taxonomic systems gave E. meloryphus sensu stricto its present common name to avoid confusion with the pre-split species and other, unrelated, species called "pygmy tyrants". However, as of late 2024 BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World retains the original common name.
The fulvous-crowned scrub tyrant is 9 to 12 cm (3.5 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 5 to 10 g (0.18 to 0.35 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a drab brownish crown with a weak crest and rufous central crown feathers that are somewhat hidden. They... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Palmar National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | Chapada Diamantina National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | El Impenetrable National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 4 | Iberá National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 5 | Iguaçu National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 6 | Iguazú National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 7 | Chapada dos Guimarães National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asuncion | 🇵🇾 Paraguay | |
| 2 | Fortaleza | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 3 | Cordoba | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 4 | Buenos Aires | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant sighting in Fortaleza on a given day, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 118th most-seen of the 129 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.
November
In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant in Fortaleza on a given day, against under 5% in December to October, the lowest months. That is one of Fortaleza's driest months, with about 10 mm of rain against 240 mm in April.
Between 7 and 10 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Rufous-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 4 cities where we can rate Rufous-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant sightings, Fortaleza ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Asuncion (Paraguay, under 5%).
Same family: Tyrannidae
The closest relatives of the Rufous-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant that you can see in Fortaleza (family Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers) are Great Kiskadee (about 90%), Tropical Kingbird (about 60%) and Social Flycatcher (about 60%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Rufous-crowned Pygmy-Tyrant is recorded against all the birds logged in Fortaleza (13 verified sightings), 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.
