Small terrestrial tyrant flycatcher approximately 13.5 cm (5.3 in) long, very similar to the Austral Negrito (Lessonia rufa), from which it differs by inhabiting exclusively high-Andean wetlands. It has long legs, a short, slender bill, and a remarkably elongated hind claw. The species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism. The male is almost entirely black with a broad pale rufous patch on the back. In flight, it shows a conspicuous white patch formed by the bases of the flight feathers, a feature that readily distinguishes it from the Austral Negrito. The female is dark brownish with a chestnut back, dark wings and tail, and a darker belly than the female Austral Negrito. Both sexes have black bill, legs, and iris. Juveniles resemble the female but are paler; young males gradually acquire the adult´s black plumage.
Geographic distribution: It is distributed throughout the Andes of central and southern Peru, western and southern Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina. In Argentina, it inhabits the high Andean wetlands of Jujuy, Salta, Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, and, very locally, Tucumán, where it is recorded mainly between 3,000 and 4,500 m above sea level, although during the winter it may make altitudinal movements to less extreme environments.
Habitat: A species closely associated with wet meadows, bofedales, lake margins, streams, and other humid high-Andean habitats. It frequents areas with low vegetation, wet or muddy soils, and very short grasslands, generally remaining close to water.
Diet: Feeds primarily on small arthropods captured on the ground. It actively patrols the edges of lakes and wet meadows by making rapid runs or short hops, alternating these searches with brief flights from rocks or low vegetation clumps. It usually forages in pairs or family groups.
Behavior: A predominantly terrestrial bird that rarely moves far from the ground. It alternates walking and rapid running with short flights to capture prey or move between perches. It often perches on small rocks, vegetation clumps, or slight rises in the terrain, from where it watches the surroundings. While perched, it frequently opens and closes its tail. It is generally quiet and wary, giving only brief, sharp contact calls. At dawn and dusk, the male performs display flights accompanied by vocalizations and a characteristic humming sound produced by the wings.
Breeding: Builds a cup-shaped nest made of plant fibers and grasses, usually concealed among vegetation clumps in high-Andean wetlands, where the female lays three to four eggs.
Conservation status: Classified as Least Concern (LC) globally. In Argentina, it has no national threat category. Although it may be locally common, it depends almost exclusively on high-Andean wetlands, habitats that are naturally fragmented and highly sensitive to overgrazing, alteration of watercourses, and other changes to the hydrological regime. Therefore, the conservation of these ecosystems is essential for maintaining its populations.
Author of this compilation: María Belén Dri and Diego Carús - 07/06/2026