The tit-tyrants are a group of small, mainly Andean, tyrant flycatchers in the genus Anairetes. It includes the genus Uromyias, which formerly was recognized based on syringial and plumage characters, including a flatter crest and a longer tail, but now is known to be imbedded within Anairetes due to genetic analysis.^[1][2] Anairetes is believed to be most closely related to the genera Mecocerculus and Serpophaga; however, there is no definitive evidence supporting this claim.^[3]

The tit-tyrants are fairly small birds (11–14 cm) that get their common name from the tit family, due to their energetic tit-like dispositions and appearance, primarily in their crests.^[1] Tit-tyrants live in temperate or arid scrub habitats and are mainly found in the Andes mountains.^[1] It is one of only a few genera of small flycatchers that occur at such high altitudes.^[4]

Species

• Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant, Anairetes alpinus
• Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Anairetes nigrocristatus
• Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, Anairetes reguloides
• Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Anairetes flavirostris
• Juan Fernández Tit-Tyrant, Anairetes fernandezianus
• Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Anairetes parulus
• Agile Tit-Tyrant, Anairetes agilis – previously in genus Uromyias
• Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Anairetes agraphia – previously in genus Uromyias

References

Cited texts

• del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David, eds. (2004). Handbook of the Birds of the World. 9. Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Barcelona: Lynx Editions. 

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