Fore and hind wings: termen narrowly edged with fuscous black on which the jet-black anticiliary line on each wing is obscurely visible, the edging of fuscous black slightly widened anteriorly.
In most of this species range, their wings are blackish-brown with rufescent edging to the remiges, and white or buff wing-bars (often appears rather spotty).
Often the boats became quite ornate with wood trim, velvet, plush chairs, gilt edging and other trimmings sometimes featured as per the owner's taste and pocketbook.
They have a short, stubby bill, are greenish above, yellowish or whitish below, and all except the sooty-headed tyrannulet have pale wing-bars or edging.
