Medium-sized ground-tyrant, 16–17 cm, generally pale with a well-defined orange-brown patch on the crown, diagnostic. Short whitish supercilium. Wings and tail dark, rump black, outer rectrices with white edging. Underparts whitish-gray, throat white. Bill long, black, slightly decurved, longer than in other ground-tyrants. Juvenile lacks the marked crown patch and shows cinnamon-tinged coverts. Compared with other species, the White-browed Ground-Tyrant (M. albibora) has a much more marked eyebrow and browner plumage, while the Cinereous Ground-Tyrant (M. cinereus) is similar in juveniles, but the Gray has a noticeably longer bill.
Subspecies: Pallidiceps: Northwestern Argentina from Jujuy to La Rioja. Smaller and paler, light ashy gray, duller crown patch, narrower eyebrow. Tail blacker and overall less contrasted. Rufivertex: Mendoza and high mountains of Córdoba and San Luis. More contrasted tones, brighter and more evident crown patch, slightly more marked eyebrow than in pallidiceps.
Geographical distribution: Andes of Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina from the northwest down to Mendoza; also high summits and the Pampa de Achala in Córdoba and San Luis. In winter it descends to low areas and sometimes occupies foothills and inter-Andean valleys. 2500–4500 m, descending to 600–1000 m in winter. In central sierras, 1500–2700 m.
Habitat: Present in puna, high sierras and Andean shrub-steppes. Rocky ground, shrub-steppe, meadows and rock outcrops, dry slopes and vegetated ravines. Common near cliffs, mountain streams and rocky banks.
Behavior: Performs short runs and hops after prey. Very upright posture, frequently moves its tail. Perches on rocks, low shrubs, wires and posts. Solitary or in pairs during breeding; forms small groups in winter. Territorial in breeding season, somewhat confiding. Song simple, a prolonged high-pitched whistle, sometimes descending. During display the male performs a short vertical flight with raised wings and emits a fine whistle.
Diet: Terrestrial arthropods captured by running or short hops, and occasionally fruits and seeds. Hunts on bare ground, among stones and from low rocks.
Reproduction: Nest is an open cup of plant material, lined with fine grasses, feathers and hair, placed in rocky crevices, cavities, ledges or among rocks under shrubs. Clutch of 3 creamy white eggs.
Conservation status: Species not considered threatened. Common within its range.
Authors of this compilation: Diego Carus and Maria Belén Dri – 06/12/2025