General

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet: Small flycatcher with gray upperparts and breast, slight crest, pale eyebrow, indistinct eye-ring, and dull white or pale yellow belly. Wings are gray with two pale bars. Bill is small, slightly decurved, and dark with an orange base. Sexes are similar.

Range and Habitat

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet: Breeds in southeastern Arizona into northwestern Mexico and also in the southernmost tip of Texas. Most migrate to central and southern Mexico for the winter; may also be found farther south in the tropics. Inhabits low thorn scrub, especially mesquite thickets and woodland borders.

Breeding and Nesting

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet: One to three white eggs finely marked with brown, olive, and gray are laid in a spherical nest with a high entrance on one side, made of grass and weeds, and lined with vegetation, down, and feathers. Nest is built on an outer branch of a deciduous tree 4 to 50 feet above the ground. Incubation period is unknown but is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet: In summer, hawks insects in mid-air; in winter, forages for insects by gleaning from twigs and leaves like a kinglet, warbler, or vireo. Also feeds on small berries.

Readily Eats

Meal Worms

Vocalization

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet: Song is a series of clear notes with a whistled, slightly nasal "peeert" or "pee-yert."

Similar Species

Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet: Buff-breasted Flycatcher is slightly larger, has pale brown upperparts and head, cinnamon-brown breast, belly, and underparts, two white wingbars, and white eye-ring that forms a teardrop.