Welcome back, nature enthusiasts, to another feathered friend gracing our Costa Rican mountain retreat! Today, we turn our gaze to a bird of striking appearance and curious habits – the Black-crowned Tityra (Tityra inquisitor).

A Bird of Many Names

This medium-sized songbird boasts a fascinating taxonomic history. Traditionally, it found itself placed either in the cotinga family or the tyrant flycatcher family. However, recent scientific evidence suggests a more fitting home: the Tityridae family.

A Flash of Silver in the Green Embrace

The Black-crowned Tityra is a vision of elegance. Males dazzle with a coat of silvery-gray feathers, a stark contrast to their jet-black crown, wings, and tail. Females, while lacking the dramatic silver, are no less beautiful, adorned in rich brown hues with a smaller black cap.

While not the largest bird you might encounter, their size (around 8 inches) and distinct coloring make them easy to spot flitting through the mid-to-upper levels of fruiting trees. Keep your eyes peeled for them in the lush canopy, especially near the retreat’s many trails that delve into the heart of the rainforest.

Listen for the Inquisitive Call

The Black-crowned Tityra isn’t shy about making its presence known. Their vocalizations are quite distinct, earning them the nickname “inquisitive tityra.” Their calls often resemble a sharp, questioning “kwaa?” or a drawn-out “wheeeep.”

A Sociable Opportunist

These birds are not loners. They often form small groups, sometimes even mingling with their close relatives, the Masked Tityras. While they primarily feed on fruits, they are opportunistic feeders, readily switching to insects, lizards, or even small frogs if the opportunity arises.

A Cunning Nest Borrower

The Black-crowned Tityra displays a rather unique nesting behavior. Unlike many birds who meticulously build their own nests, these tityras prefer to take the shortcut route. They often “borrow” cavities excavated by woodpeckers, readily adapting them for their own broods.

A Species at Home in Paradise

The Black-crowned Tityra has a vast range, stretching from Mexico all the way down to Argentina. Luckily for us, Costa Rica falls squarely within this range. Look for them in our mountain retreat’s lush rainforests, or anywhere with subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and even heavily degraded former forests.

So, the next time you’re exploring the verdant trails of our Costa Rican haven, keep an ear out for the inquisitive call and an eye out for a flash of silver amongst the leaves. You might just be lucky enough to spot the Black-crowned Tityra, a bird as beautiful as it is intriguing.

For more information, please view our comprehensive guide about the birds of Costa Rica

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