the tyrants earns the place of the old-terrestrial Fliegenschnäpper in the new world. The successful and versatile family (approximately 365 types) conquered all habitats, going out from the tropical areas, of Alaska and Canada as far as after fire-country; it is widespread beside it on the Galápagos-Inseln and the Antilles. One finds it in deserts or Urwäldern like about the snow-covered mountain-hilltops of the Andes as well. The tyrants of a French ornithologist of the 19 got its name. Century because of its "courage opposite bigger gripping-birds."
Nutrition Since the tyrants live mainly on insects, the brood-populations behave in the restrained widths as migratory birds while the tropical types find the whole year over a sufficient food-offer. The Schmätzer or ground-tyrants (Rubinköpfchen) primarily are at the ground and could widen its habitat as far as on the treeless, rocky Andes-hillsides in big altitudes. Other types adapted themselves particularly to the swampy valleys or river-runs. Insects hunt the tyrants predominantly in the flight, with what the beak-bristles serve most types as catch-funnels at the beak-reasons, from an Ansitz from. So, also the beaks are trained mainly wide and flat, however also narrowly sometimes and pointed. Many smaller types - comparably our European warblers - scan the Blätterdach after insects.
The menu often is supplemented through fruits. In addition, the bigger tyrants catch also smaller vertebrates (fish, frogs, lizards, mice). It makes ready some types to quite catch no difficulties, insect-larvae, fish and tadpoles from flowing or standing flat waters. They can act also as nest-robbers.
Characteristics Most tyrants are inconspicuously colored, small until moderate-sized birds (7,5-25 cm); langschwänzige types reach up to 40 cm of length, like Z. B. the fork-tail-tyrant (Muscivora tyrannus); from it 27,5 cm of tail-length. Opposite it, it dawns, brown or olive back-plumages characteristically are a yellow, orange or red vertex-stain for many types; sometimes, a "head-bonnet" can be set up, like Z. B. with the mop of hair-tyrant (Onychorhynchus mexicanus) or with the crown-tyrant (Onychorhynchus coronatus). A shining-yellow underside occurs spread. Usually, the sexes don't differ externally; Exceptions construct especially splendidly colored types (Rubinköpfchen) only they here. Run and foot remain broadly rather weakly developed and are somewhat more powerful only with the ground-living forms.
Brood In such a diverse family, the Nistgewohnheiten can fluctuate very strongly. Also tree-caves (Z) become beside open, bowl-shaped as far as to hanging, closed nests with lateral entrance. B. abandoned woodpecker-caves, as chosen Nistplatz. The thief-tyrant (Legatus leucophaius) from the subfamily of the actual tyrants makes it especially easy for himself: it looks for the nest of a simple bird-type for himself and simply throws out boy and parents.
Most tyrants live in monogamy. While the male usually still takes part in the nest-construction, the female takes over the Bebrütung of the 2-6 eggs alone. Until the boys are fully-fledged, they are looked after again by both alto-birds.
Tone-remarks As quite original sparrow-birds, the tyrants with a very simple voice-appliance are equipped. its reputations are in many different ways, often, they are especially well suitable for the regulation of the respective type. The voice is not predominant melodically but rather rough and loud. The big tyrant-types are known for its making a noise.
System One distinguishes 6 subfamilies: 1. Schmätzertyrannen (Fluvicolinae), Z. B. this (Rubinköpfchen); - 2. Actual tyrants (Tyranninae), Z. B. this (king-tyrant); - 3. Fliegenschnäpper-Tyrannen (Myiarchinae); - 4. Narrow-beak-tyrants (Euscarthminae); - 5. Dwarf-tyrants (Serpophaginae); - 6. Elaenien-Verwandte (Elaeniae).
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