Plain inezia

The plain inezia, or plain tyrannulet^[2] , (Inezia inornata) is a species of passerine bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers.^[3] It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru.^[4]

Plain inezia
at Aquidauana River, Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazil
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Tyrannidae
Genus:	Inezia
Species:	I. inornata
Binomial name
Inezia inornata (Salvadori, 1897)

Taxonomy and systematics

The plain inezia was originally described as Serpophaga inornata.^[5] By the late twentieth century it had been moved to its present genus Inezia.^[6]

The plain inezia is monotypic.^[3]

Description

The plain inezia is about 9 cm (3.5 in) long and weighs 5.5 to 6 g (0.19 to 0.21 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a grayish to olive-gray crown. Their face is mostly whitish with a thin white supercilium and a thin white eye-ring. Their back and rump are grayish to olive-gray. Their wings are dusky with dull white edges on the inner flight feathers and tips of the wing coverts; the latter show as two wing bars. Their tail is dusky. Their throat is whitish and their breast and belly dingy gray with a pale yellow tinge on the lower belly and undertail coverts. They have a dark brown iris, a thin black bill with sometimes a paler base to the mandible, and gray legs and feet.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Distribution and habitat

The plain tyrannulet breeds from southern Beni Department in central Bolivia south to northern Paraguay and Salta and western Jujuy provinces in northwestern Argentina. In the non-breeding season many move north into northern Bolivia, Peru's Puno, and Madre de Dios departments and southwestern Amazonian Brazil. In the breeding season it inhabits deciduous and semi-deciduous woodlands and the drier Gran Chaco. In the non-breeding season it mostly occurs in shrubby early successional vegetation along rivers and other watercourses. In elevation it ranges from near sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft).^{[7][8][9][10]}

Behavior

Movement

As noted above, the plain tyrannulet is a partial migrant, with individuals moving between the southern parts of its range into Peru and Brazil after the breeding season.^[7][8][9]

Feeding

The plain inezia feeds on arthropods and probably also small fruits. It typically forages alone or in pairs and occasionally joins mixed-species feeding flocks. It takes prey and fruits from foliage and twigs mostly by gleaning while perched and also by briefly hovering after a short flight.^[7]

Breeding

The plain inezia's breeding season has not been defined but appears to include November in Bolivia. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.^[7]

Songs and calls Listen to the plain inezia on xeno-canto

Vocalization

The plain inezia's song is a "somewhat musical series of thin whistles with [an] emphatic introductory note, 'psee-tee-ee-ee-ee' ".^[7]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the plain inezia as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.^[1] It is thought to be generally uncommon and is considered rare in Peru.^[7][9] It occurs in several protected areas across its range.^[7]