Shear-tailed grey tyrant
species of bird
The shear-tailed grey tyrant (Muscipipra vetula) is a species of bird in the family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Taxonomy and systematics
The shear-tailed grey tyrant was formally described in 1823 as Muscicapa vetula, erroneously placing it in the Old World flycatcher family. It was later reassigned to its present genus Muscipipra that had been erected in 1831.
The shear-tailed tyrant is the only member of genus Muscipipra and has no subspecies.
Description
The shear-tailed grey tyrant is about 20 to 22.5 cm (7.9 to 8.9 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly dull dark gray head and upperparts. They have dusky ear coverts that form a mask. They have faint streaks on the crown and back.
The public source identifies “Shear-tailed grey tyrant” as species of bird. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Shear-tailed, grey and tyrant.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Shear-tailed grey tyrant”, the useful work is to connect “species of bird” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Oct 6, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q935922. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1823 and 1831.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Shear-tailed grey tyrant”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Shear-tailed grey tyrant primary sources, Shear-tailed grey tyrant archive and Shear-tailed research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Shear-tailed grey tyrant”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Shear-tailed grey tyrant” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.