Shrike-tyrant


The shrike-tyrants are a genus, Agriornis, of birds in the tyrant flycatcher family Tyrannidae. The members of this genus are found in open habitats in western and southern South America, usually at high elevations. They are large and heavy billed by tyrant-flycatcher standards, and include the largest representative of the family, the great shrike-tyrant. These five species all have a dull brownish or greyish plumage. Despite their name any similarity with the shrikes is superficial. Many field guides note their greater resemblance to thrushes.

Species

The genus contains the following 5 species:
ImageCommon nameScientific nameDistribution
Black-billed shrike-tyrantAgriornis montanusArgentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
Lesser shrike-tyrantAgriornis murinusnorthern Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.
White-tailed shrike-tyrantAgriornis albicaudaArgentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru.
Grey-bellied shrike-tyrantAgriornis micropteraArgentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
Great shrike-tyrantAgriornis lividusChile and adjacent areas of south-western Argentina.