Sirystes - Sirystes sibilator

Sirystes (Sirystes sibilator)

Sirystes, Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil, April 2001 - click for larger image

Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil
April 2001

The Sirystes is a flycatcher which is closely related to the Myiarchus genus and follows that genus in using holes in trees for nesting.

It is found in forest and secondary woodlands from Colombia through Amazonia to south-east Brazil. There are a variety of subspecies in this extensive range and there may be two species involved.

There are some differences in plumage between the subspecies but all have a black crown with a generally raised crest and grey to white underparts. This particular bird shows some buff on the wingbars.

The Sirystes is a loud and vocal bird. The name is derived from the Greek "suristes" which refers to a piper or pipe-player.

There are illustrations in Ridgely & Tudor, Volume 2, Plate 43; Hilty & Brown, Plate 39; and Sick, Page 480.

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