Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant

Dormilona Común

Muscisaxicola macloviana

Length: 170mm. Sexes alike. Bill black; iris dark brown; upper parts of head and auriculars blackish brown; hind neck and above greyish brown; uppertail coverts blackish; rectrices blackish with outer margins whitish; foreneck, breast and flanks light brownish grey; belly and undertail coverts whitish. Wing coverts as back with narrow light grey margins; remiges dark greyish brown with tertiaries margined light brownish grey. Legs black.

Average weight: 20g. Habitat and behaviour: it is the commonest of the Ground- Tyrants; it is found in groups that in winter range in number from 20 or 30 and even more than a hundred individuals. It is generally observed on the ground, although it may be spotted perching in the topmost branches of shrubs. In Patagonia it inhabits all types of open fields and prairies. Tame and silent by nature, it often utters a weak call. Range: the race Musisaxicola macloviana mentalis is distributed in all Patagonia, whereas the race Muscisaxilcola macloviana macloviana occurs at Islas Malvinas.