Spectacled tyrant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spectacled tyrant |
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| male | |
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| female | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hymenops
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| Species: |
perspicillatus
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| Year-round Non-Breeding | |
The spectacled tyrant (Hymenops perspicillatus) is a cool bird from the family of tyrant flycatchers. It's the only species in its special genus called Hymenops.
You can find this bird in countries like Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. Sometimes, it might even visit Bolivia, Paraguay, or southern Brazil! It loves living in dry shrublands and swamps, which are wet, marshy areas.
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Meet the Spectacled Tyrant
The spectacled tyrant is a small bird known for its unique look. The male bird has bright yellow "spectacles" around its eyes, which is how it got its name! The female looks a bit different, with less bright colors.
These birds are part of the Tyrannidae family, which includes many types of flycatchers. Flycatchers are birds that often catch insects while flying.
Where Do They Live?
The spectacled tyrant lives in South America. Its main homes are in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.
- Year-round home: Some areas, shown in purple on the map, are where they live all year.
- Non-breeding home: Other areas, shown in blue, are places they visit when they are not raising their young.
They prefer certain types of places to live, called habitats. These include:
- Dry shrublands: Areas with small bushes and dry land.
- Swamps: Wet, marshy areas, often with lots of water and plants.
Sometimes, these birds can wander far from their usual homes. They have been seen as far north as south-eastern Brazil!
What's in a Name?
The spectacled tyrant got its scientific name, Motacilla perspicillata, in 1789 from a German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin. He first thought it was like a wagtail bird.
Later, in 1828, a French scientist named René Lesson created a new genus just for this bird, calling it Hymenops. This is why it's the only species in the Hymenops genus.
The name Hymenops comes from ancient Greek words:
- Humēn means "skin" or "membrane."
- Ōps means "eye."
This refers to the special skin or membrane around its eyes.
The second part of its scientific name, perspicillatus, is a Latin word meaning "spectacled." This perfectly describes the bird's eye markings!
Different Types of Spectacled Tyrants
Scientists recognize two main groups, or subspecies, of the spectacled tyrant:
- H. p. perspicillatus: This group lives in places like southeast Brazil, Uruguay, and parts of Argentina and Paraguay.
- H. p. andinus: This group is found in central Chile and other parts of central and southern Argentina.
These two groups look very similar but might have slight differences in their size or where exactly they live.
