The Peruvian tyrannulet (Zimmerius viridiflavus) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is endemic to Peru.

Taxonomy and systematics

The Peruvian tyrannulet was originally described as Elaenia viridiflava. It was later reclassified as a subspecies of the golden-faced tyrannulet (then Tyrannulus chrysops, now Zimmerius chrysops). Through much of the twentieth century the golden-faced tyrannulet and several other tyrannulets were kept in genus Tyranniscus but a study published in 1977 erected the present genus Zimmerius for them. Beyond its transfer to Zimmerius as a subspecies of the golden-faced tyrannulet, the Peruvian tyrannulet's taxonomy is unsettled. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) follows a study published in 2008 and splits it from the golden-faced tyrannulet as a monotypic species. The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society, the Clements taxonomy, and BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) also treat Z. viridiflavus as a species. However, they include in it a second subspecies which the IOC treats as a separate species, the Loja tyrannulet (Z. flavidifrons). This article follows the monotypic species IOC model.

Description

The Peruvian tyrannulet is about 11 to 12 cm long and weighs 9 to 10 g. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have pale yellow lores and eye-ring and a dark stripe through the eye on an otherwise buff-washed bright olive face. Their crown is darkish olive to grayish olive and their back and rump are bright olive. Their wings are dark dusky with bright yellow-green edges on the coverts and flight feathers. Their tail is dusky olive. Their throat is pale yellow, their breast and flanks olive-yellow with some olive markings, and their belly bright yellow. They have a gray to medium brown iris with a tan rim, a small, rounded, bill whose maxilla is gray to blackish and mandible medium gray, and dark gray to black legs and feet.

Distribution and habitat

The Peruvian tyrannulet is found intermittently on the east side of the central Peruvian Andes in the departments of Huánuco, Junín, and Ayacucho. It primarily inhabits the canopy and edges of humid montane forest and occasionally occurs in secondary forest. In elevation it ranges between 1000 and 2500 m.

Behavior

Movement

The Peruvian tyrannulet is a year-round resident throughout its range.

Feeding

The Peruvian tyrannulet feeds on insects; it probably also feeds on small fruits like those of mistletoes (Loranthaceae). It forages singly or in pairs and often joins mixed-species feeding flocks. It feeds mostly in the forest canopy, perching horizontally with its tail cocked and actively moving about and gleaning food while perched or with short flights.

Breeding

Nothing is known about the Peruvian tyrannulet's breeding biology.

Vocalization

The Peruvian tyrannulet's dawn song is "a rising, musical, chiming series tew-tew-tee" and its call "a 1-4 note upslurred hooooeet? or huhu-hu eeet?".

Status

The IUCN follows HBW taxonomy so its assessment of the Peruvian tyrannulet includes the Loja tyrannulet. The Peruvian tyrannulet occurs in at least one protected area in Huánuco.