The Story
This White-throated Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus leucophrys) was at Los Nevados National Natural Park in Murillo, Tolima, Colombia when I photographed it. It usually forages alone or in pairs and regularly joins mixed-species flocks. While foraging it often gives a pit or pif note. Its nest is a cup of plant fibers, wool, moss and spiderweb. It occurs in most or all of the protected areas within its range. Murillo, at about 3,000 meters, is the highest town in Tolima, and the western edge of the municipality takes in the peaks of Nevado del Ruiz.
I made this frame with a Pentax K-1 and the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm f/4.5-5.6, at 1/500 sec, f/5.6, ISO 3200. IUCN lists the White-throated Tyrannulet as Least Concern, with a decreasing population.
©2019 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The White-throated Tyrannulet (Mecocerculus leucophrys) belongs to the family Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2024), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List