Paltry Tyrannulet
Zimmerius vilissimus
Also known as: Guatemalan Tyrannulet, Guatemalan Paltry Tyrannulet
About This Species
A tiny, plain flycatcher of forest edges, second growth and canopy foliage from Mexico to Central America, best located by its thin, insistent call rather than by sight. It forages actively and restlessly through outer branches and vine tangles, gleaning small insects and occasionally taking berries. Mixed-species foraging flocks moving through forest edge in the early morning are the most reliable way to catch it.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- It is unobtrusive and generally unbothered by quiet observers standing still along a trail, so there is little need to approach closely — patience and binoculars serve better than proximity.
- Avoid pishing or playback repeatedly, since it can draw small forest birds away from feeding and pull them toward trail edges and potential predators.
- General forest and wildlife protections apply across much of its Central American range, so stay on marked trails in reserves.
LCAvesPasseriformesTyrannidae
Seasonal Activity
156,695 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Tyrannidae
Photo
(c) William Stephens, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by William Stephens
CC-BY-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.