Black-tailed Tityra

The Black-tailed Tityra occurs in both eastern and western Ecuador, where it inhabits lowland and foothill forests, forest edges, and semi-open woodlands typically below 1,200 meters. Though generally uncommon, it is locally present and often seen perched conspicuously in the canopy, foraging for fruit and large insects, sometimes in mixed-species flocks. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a broad range across tropical South America and a population that, while declining modestly, remains stable overall. Natural history observations highlight its robust build, distinctive black tail, and cavity-nesting behavior, often in abandoned woodpecker holes, with males and females sharing parental duties.