The northern tufted flycatcher or simply tufted flycatcher (Mitrephanes phaeocercus) is a small passerine bird in the tyrant flycatcher family. It is found from Mexico to Ecuador.

The northern tufted flycatcher is 12 to 13.5 cm (4.7 to 5.3 in) long and weighs about 8.5 g (0.30 oz). The sexes have the same plumage and all subspecies have an erect pointed crest. Adults of the nominate subspecies M. p. phaeocercus have a brown-tinged olive crown, a pale spot above the lores, and a thin buff-white eye-ring on an otherwise cinnamon face. Their upperparts are brownish with an olive tinge. Their wings are dusky with buff ends on the coverts that show as two wing bars. They have whitish or pale yellow edges on their tertials. Their tail is dusky. Their throat and breast are bright ochre to cinnamon and their belly ochre-yellow. They have a dark iris, a black maxilla, an orange-yellow mandible, and blackish legs and feet. Juveniles have a dark brown crown with cinnamon-buff edges on its feathers and those of their upperparts.

Subspecies M. p. tenuirostris is paler and duller than the nominate. M. p. berlepschi has a darker olive crown than the nominate, with yellowish lores, an olive back and breast, olive wing bars, and a bright yellow belly. M. p. aurantiiventris is intermediate between the nominate and berlepschi, with medium olive upperparts and underparts tending more ochre than cinnamon.