Velvety Black-Tyrant: Insect Picker

The sleek, Velvety Black-tyrant or maria-preta-de-garganta-vermelha in Portuguese, is found only in dry grasslands and forests of eastern Brazil, where its inky black plumage appears almost like a silhouette against the surrounding rocky, shrubby terrain. It shares these arid places with other rare endemics such as the Blue-eyed Ground-Dove, and the White-browed Antpitta.

This flycatcher belongs to the enormous Tyrannidae (tyrant flycatcher) family, the largest bird family in the Americas. This feisty, fearless family of birds reaches its greatest number and diversity in South America, and includes species such as the Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant, Cock-tailed Tyrant, Ochraceous Attila, and Antioquia Bristle-Tyrant.

Also known as: Viudita Aterciopelada (Spanish), Ada noir (French)