The Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant bird, also known as Anairetes reguloides, is a small passerine bird that belongs to the family Tyrannidae. It is mainly found in South America, especially in the Andes mountains and nearby regions.
The Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant is around 13cm in length and weighs approximately 11g. It has a conspicuous white crest on its head, contrasting with a black mask around the eyes. Its wings and back are dark grey, while its underparts are white.
This species is known to thrive in a variety of habitats, including cloud forests, shrublands, and wetlands. It typically feeds on small insects and spiders, which it catches by perching on branches, leaves, and twigs.
The breeding season for the Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant usually starts in late winter and extends to early summer. The birds build their nests out of moss and cobwebs near the ends of branches to protect their young from predators. The female lays two or three eggs, which are incubated for about two weeks by both parents. The chicks leave the nest after about two weeks and become independent after another two weeks.
The Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant is a social bird and usually found in pairs or small groups of up to six individuals. It is an active flyer, continuously moving from one perch to another while searching for food. Its distinctive call is a sharp "chip" or "tsip."
Despite being classified as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant is still vulnerable to habitat loss due to deforestation, mining, and agriculture. Its population is also at risk because of the illegal pet trade and hunting. To conserve this species, habitat protection, and enforcement of stricter laws on wildlife trade are necessary.