Torrent Tyrannulet (Serpophaga cinerea grisea)

29 January 2009, Savegre Mountain Hotel, San Gerardo de Dota, Costa Rica They are said to be common in appropriate habitat, but we only saw one pair on our visit. I decided to wait patiently for this bird to return to one of its favorite perches. It took a while, but eventually I was rewarded with this photo. This tiny, kinglet-sized flycatcher lives only along rushing highland streams and rivers where they like to perch on wet boulders. They are nondescript but full of personality, often pumping their tails and restlessly active. Two subspecies are recognized. This is S. c. grisea which is confined to the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama. It is quite a bit smaller and paler than the nominate race which ranges in South America south to Bolivia. Panasonic DMC-LZ5 / Nikon FieldScope 3 / 30X WA hand-held (no adapter)