The family Tyrannidae, commonly known as tyrant flycatchers, is the largest family of New World passerine birds, with over 400 species distributed from Alaska and Canada to Tierra del Fuego. Members of this family are generally insectivorous, often catching insects in flight, though some also eat fruits or small vertebrates. Tyrannids vary widely in size, shape, and coloration, but most are relatively small, with stout bills adapted for snapping up prey. They are primarily solitary or territorial, and many species exhibit complex vocalizations used for communication and mate attraction. Found in diverse habitats ranging from forests and grasslands to deserts and wetlands, Tyrannidae play important ecological roles in controlling insect populations and dispersing seeds.