They mainly feed on small arthropods, and most commonly take part in mixed species flocks.

The mottled-cheeked tyrannulet is among the commonest birds in its range, but several other species are rare and threatened.

Their plumage is predominantly green, yellow, white and grey, and many have contrasting facial patterns and wing-bars.

[3] Frank Gill and David Donsker then also recognised Pogonotriccus in the list of bird species that they maintain on behalf of the International Ornithological Committee.

[4] The evidence for splitting the genus is weak: a 2009 molecular phylogenetic study that included one species from Pogonotriccus and three from Phylloscartes, found that the genetic differences were small.