Velvety Black-tyrant - Knipolegus nigerrimus

Velvety Black-tyrant (Knipolegus nigerrimus)

Brazil

The Velvety Black-tyrant is a Brazilian endemic found in grassy or rocky areas at higher elevations (700m to 2,700m) in parts of north-east and south-east Brazil.

They are generally in pairs foraging near the ground.

Velvety Black-tyrants are glossy blue-black with white on the primaries which is visible in flight but generally concealed at rest (although it can be seen in the third photo). The bill is pale bluish-grey. The third and fourth photos are of females which have have a chestnut throat with black streaks.

The generic name comes from the Greek "knipos", an insect and "lego" to gather.

Female Velvety Black-tyrant, Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil, April 2001 - click for larger image

There is an illustration of a female in Ridgely & Tudor, Volume 2, Plate 42.

Female Velvety Black-tyrant, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil, March 2004 - click for larger image

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