Phylloscartes superciliaris
Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
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 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park on a given day, based on 352 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 202nd most-seen of the 467 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Rufous-browed Tyrannulet in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park on a given day, against under 5% in November to July, the lowest months. That is one of Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park's wettest months, with about 570 mm of rain against 160 mm in February.
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.
Yes
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Rufous-browed Tyrannulet sightings, Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park has the highest daily chance: under 5%. Next come Arenal Volcano National Park (Costa Rica, under 5%) and La Amistad International Park (Panama) (Panama, under 5%).
Same family: Tyrannidae
The closest relatives of the Rufous-browed Tyrannulet that you can see in Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park (family Tyrannidae, Tyrant Flycatchers) are Mountain Elaenia (about 30%), Black-capped Flycatcher (about 30%) and Guatemalan Paltry Tyrannulet (about 30%), 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 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park (352 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.
