Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant

Identification

The Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant is a compact flycatcher measuring 20 to 22.5 cm in length. Adults are characterized by dull dark grey upperparts with faint streaks on the crown and back, combined with dusky blackish wings. A distinctive dusky mask formed by dark ear coverts frames the face, while the chin and throat are white, contrasting with a dark grey breast and pale grey belly. The species' most striking feature is its long, slender, deeply notched tail with dusky-blackish coloring and pale whitish edges on the undersides of the outer feathers. Both sexes share identical plumage, though juveniles display a distinctive white scaly appearance on the crown, back, and wings. The bird has a blackish iris, dusky bill, and dusky legs.

Range & Habitat

This tyrant occurs from southern Bahia and central Minas Gerais in eastern Brazil south through southern Brazil and eastern Paraguay into northeastern Argentina's Misiones and Corrientes provinces. The species primarily inhabits the edges of humid forest and secondary woodland, with less frequent occurrence in adjacent clearings and grassland. Elevations typically range between 1,000 and 2,200 meters, making it a bird of the subtropical highlands.

Behaviour & Diet

The Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant feeds exclusively on insects, typically foraging in pairs though groups of up to six individuals have been observed. It usually perches on high exposed branches near the forest canopy, launching long sallies to catch prey mid-air, though it will also hunt lower in vegetation and even at ground level. The species is generally quiet, though it produces distinctive calls described as a repeated "pup-pup-pup" or a disyllabic whistle rendered as "jew-bewt" or "duh-djúp." Its breeding season remains poorly defined but extends into November in Rio Grande do Sul, with nests being tall open cups constructed from twigs and coarse grass, lined with fine grass and positioned within about 1 meter of the ground in shrubby vegetation. Clutches consist of three eggs.

Best Time & Places to See It

The Shear-tailed Grey Tyrant is generally rare to uncommon throughout its range but is regular in several public and private protected areas across Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Observers should focus on forest edges and secondary woodland between 1,000 and 2,200 meters elevation. The species' secretive nature and usually quiet demeanor require patient observation, particularly during the breeding season which includes November in southern Brazil.

Photography Tips

Photographing this species demands patience and attention to its preferred perching behavior on exposed high branches. Early morning hours offer the best light for capturing the subtle grey plumage and distinctive notched tail pattern. A telephoto lens is essential, as the bird typically hunts near the canopy and may launch into flight from its perch. The striking facial mask and contrasting white throat make these features priority subjects. Look for birds in secondary woodland and forest edges where they hunt in open areas, and focus on protected reserves where the species is more regular.