Hudson's canastero

Asthenes hudsoni

Photo by Juan Maria Raggio (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Hudson's canastero (en); joão-platino (pt); synallaxe de Hudson (fr); canastero pampeano (es); nördlicher flügelspiegelcanastero (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found in south-western Uruguay and in eastern Argentina from Santa Fe to southern Buenos Aires. Also marginally into Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil.

Size:
These birds are 18 cm long.

Habitat:
The Hudson's canastero is found in temperate grasslands, including areas with tall wet grass such as Paspalum quadrifarium, sedges near wetlands, and seasonally inundated grasslands dominated by Spartina densiflora. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 950 m.

Diet:
They are insectivorous, taking caterpillars, beetles, stink bugs, grasshoppers and ants, which they glean from the ground or from low vegetation.

Breeding:
These birds are presumed to be monogamous and nest in November-January. The nest is placed on or near the ground and the female lays 3-4 eggs. There is no available information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as uncommon to locally fairly common. The population is suspected to be experiencing a moderately rapid decline owing primarily to the on-going loss of habitat through land conversion for cultivation, livestock grazing and urbanization. The species is probably also susceptible to pollution.

Rufous-fronted thornbird

Phacellodomus rufifrons

Photo by Nick Athanas (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
rufous-fronted thornbird (en); joão-de-pau (pt); synallaxe à front roux (fr); espinero común (es); rotstirn-bündelnister (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species occurs in four disjunct areas in South America, one in northern Venezuela and eastern Colombia, another in northern Peru and marginally into southern Ecuador, a third  in Bolivia, adjacent parts of Brazil and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina, and finally another in eastern Brazil, from Maranhão to Pernambuco and south to Minas Gerais.

Size:
These birds are 16-17 cm long and weigh 18-31 g.

Habitat:
The rufous-fronted thornbird is found in dry scrublands, savannas and tropical forests, also using second growth, from sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.

Diet:
They forage on low vegetation and on the ground, taking various insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, bugs and ants.

Breeding:
Rufous-fronted thornbirds breed can possibly breed all year round, varying among different parts of their range. They can nest cooperatively, with helpers participating in nest defence and feeding the young. The nest is a huge structure made of twigs, placed in the outer branches of a tree, inside of which is the spherical nest chamber that is lined with feathers and other soft materials. The nest are so large that other bird species may also use parts of the structure as nest. The female lays 3 eggs, but there is no information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Great spinetail

Siptornopsis hypochondriacus

Photo by Christian Nunes (Flickr)

Common name:
great spinetail (en); joão-grande (pt); synallaxe à poitrine rayée (fr); curutié grande (es); weißbrust-dickichtschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is endemic to an area of north-western Peru, on the slopes above the dry upper Marañón river valley in south Amazonas, south-east Cajamarca, east La Libertad and north Ancash.

Size:
These birds are 17-19 cm long and weigh 23-26 g.

Habitat:
The great spinetail  is found in arid and desert scrublands with cacti, and sometimes mixed with Acacia and Bombax trees, at altitudes of 1.650-3.000 m.

Diet:
They usually forage in pairs gleaning beetles and other arthropods from dense foliage.

Breeding:
Great spinetails build a large, enclosed stick nest. There is no further information regarding the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a relatively small breeding range and the global population is estimated at 6.000-15.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be declining rapidly, in line with rates of habitat loss within its range. The Marañón river drainage has been under cultivation for a long time and habitat in the valley has progressively deteriorated. The spread of oil-palms, cattle-ranching and logging are all serious threats to remaining habitat, with oil extraction a potential future problem.

Creamy-crested spinetail

Cranioleuca albicapilla

Photo by Tomas Grim (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
creamy-crested spinetail (en); arredio-de-barrete-branco (pt); synallaxe à calotte blanche (fr); curutié crestado (es); fahlkappen-baumschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Peru, being found along the eastern slopes of the Andes from Tarma to Cusco.

Size:
These birds are 16-17 cm long and weigh 18-24 g.

Habitat:
The creamy-crested spinetail is mostly found in high altitude woodlands and scrublands, ranging from semi-arid to semi-humid areas, particularly areas dominated by Podocarpus or Eugenia-Escallonia. They also use pastures and arable land. This species occurs at altitudes of 2.400-3.800 m.

Diet:
They forage in pairs, or sometimes join mixed-species foraging flocks, taking various arthropods from the mid-storey of the vegetation.

Breeding:
Creamy-crested spinetails are believed to be monogamous and possibly breed in January-May. The nest is a small globular structure made of moss, twigs and bark strips, usually suspended from the end of a branch. There is no further information on the reproduction of this species.

Conservation:IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as locally fairly common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Red-faced spinetail

Cranioleuca erythrops

Photo by Eduardo Letort (PBase)

Common name:
red-faced spinetail (en); arredio-de-faces-vermelhas (pt); synallaxe à face rouge (fr); curutié carirrojo (es); rotgesicht-baumschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species occurs in three disjunct subspecies. C.e. rufigenis is found in the mountains of Costa Rica and western Panama, C.e. griseigularis is found in extreme eastern Panama and along the Andes of western and central Colombia, and C.e. erythrops is found in the Andes of western Ecuador.

Size:
These birds are 14-15 cm long and weigh 13-20 g.

Habitat:
The red-faced spinetail is mostly found in moist, mountain rainforests, but also use rainforests at lower altitudes, tall second growths and tropical deciduous forests. They occur at altitudes of 150-2.300 m.

Diet:They often join mixed-species feeding flocks, hunting among tree branches, bark and epiphytes in search of invertebrates such as beetles, grasshoppers, roaches, caterpillars, spiders. They are also known to take the protein corpuscles produced by Cecropia sp.

Breeding:
Red-faced spinetails breed in March-July. The nest is a bulky ball, loosely made of grass, moss and pieces of epiphytes, with an entrance tunnel at the bottom, and placed hanging near the end of a branch, 5-12 m above the ground. There the female lays 2 eggs. There is no available information regarding the incubation and fledging periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

White-whiskered spinetail

Synallaxis candei

Photo by Martin Reid (Martin Reid Birds, Bugs and Beyond...)

Common name:
white-whiskered spinetail (en); joão-teneném-de-bigodes (pt); synallaxe à moustaches (fr); pijuí barbiblanco (es); weißbart-dickichtschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found in north-eastern Colombia and north-western Venezuela.

Size:
These birds are 15-17 cm long and weigh 14-16 g.

Habitat:
The white-whiskered spinetail is mostly found in dry, deciduous tropical forests and arid scrublands, often favouring areas dominated by cacti. They also use mangroves and pastures and are present from sea level up to an altitude of 1.100 m.

Diet:
They glean insects and other arthropods from the ground and bark surfaces.

Breeding:
White-whiskered spinetails breed in October-January, during the local wet season. They are believed to be monogamous and remain paired outside the breeding season. The nest is a globular structure made of thorny twigs, sticks and bark, with a lateral entrance that leads into the inner chamber which is lined with green leaves. Nests are usually placed in thorny scrubs, such as Prosopis juliflora, Cercidium praecox and Castela erecta, about 1-2,5 m above the ground. The female lays 3-4 turquoise blue to pale green eggs. There is no available information regarding the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common to common in most of this range. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Striolated tit-spinetail

Leptasthenura striolata

Photo by Eduardo Patrial (Flickr)

Common name:
striolated tit-spinetail (en); grimpeirinho (pt); synallaxe striolé (fr); tijeral brasileño (es); Isabellstreifen-meisenschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is endemic to southern Brazil, being found from Paraná to Rio Grande do Sul.

Size:
These birds are 13-16 cm long and weigh 10-11 g.

Habitat:
The striolated tit-spinetail is mostly found in temperate forests, particularly in stands of conifers such as Araucaria angustifolia and Podocarpus sp., but also uses scrublands. They are present at altitudes of 500-1.200 m.

Diet:
They feed on insects and other arthropods.

Breeding:
These birds breed in cavities, either excavating holes in soft wood or using natural tree cavities, abandoned nests of woodpeckers and other birds or even in other hollow structures such as cattle skulls. The nest is usually 1-6 m above the ground. The female possibly lays a single egg. There is no information regarding the length of the incubation and fledgling periods, but chicks are known to be fed by both parents.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Campo miner

Geositta poeciloptera

Photo by Bertrando Campos (Go Up 7)

Common name:
campo miner (en); andarilho (pt); géositte des campos (fr); minero brasileño (es); camposerdhacker (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found in southern Brazil, from Mato Grosso, Goiás and Minas Gerais south to São Paulo, and marginally into north-eastern Bolivia and possibly northern Paraguay.

Size:
These birds are 11-12,5 cm long and weigh 17-19 g.

Habitat:
The campo miner is found in dry cerrado grasslands and savannas, often using recently burned areas. They are present at altitudes of 500-1.200 m.

Diet:
They forage on the ground, mostly taking insects and other arthropods, but also some seeds. They often take advantage of fires to find their prey.

Breeding:
Campo miners nest inside an armadillo burrow, an old swallow nest or sometimes on a tunnel excavated by themselves, which is lined with dry plant matter. There is no information regarding clutch size and the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a very large breeding range, but is described as uncommon and patchily distributed. The population is suspected to have declined rapidly owing to continued habitat destruction and degradation within the range, mainly caused by mechanized agriculture, cattle ranching and plantation of exotic tree species. Fire suppression may also have a negative effect on this species.

Buffy tuftedcheek

Pseudocolaptes lawrencii

Photo by Joe Tobias (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
buffy tuftedcheek (en); barba-branca-castanho (pt); anabate chamois (fr); barbablanca habana (es); Panamaschopfohr (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found in the mountains of Costa Rica and Panama.

Size:
These birds are 20 cm long and weigh about 50 g.

Habitat:
The buffy tuftedcheek is mostly found in mountain rainforests, but can also use rainforests at lower altitudes and second growths. they are present at altitudes of 700-3.000 m.

Diet:
They hunt insects, spiders and small amphibians.

Breeding:
These birds nest in abandoned woodpecker nests, usually 5-10 m above the ground. There the female lays a single white egg, which she incubates alone for around 29 days. There is no information regarding the fledgling period.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively small breeding range and is described as uncommon and patchily distributed. However, the population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Puna miner

Geositta punensis

Photo by Nick Athanas (Antpitta)

Common name:
puna miner (en); curriqueiro-da-puna (pt); géositte de la puna (fr); minero puneño (es); punaerdhacker (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:This species is found in southern Peru, south-western Bolivia, northern Chile and north-western Argentina.

Size:
These birds are 15-16 cm long and weigh 22-29 g.

Habitat:
The puna miner is found in high-altitude grasslands and sometimes also in scrublands, at altitudes of 3.000-5.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on the ground, taking insects and other arthropods.

Breeding:
Puna miners nest in a burrow on the ground, with an incubation chamber at the end lined with grasses, feathers and hair. There the female lays 2-3 whitish eggs which are incubated by both parents for about 2 weeks. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 18 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as uncommon. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Puna thistletail

Asthenes helleri

Photo by Cock Reijnders (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
puna thistletail (en); lenheiro-da-puna (pt); synallaxe de Heller (fr); piscuiz de la puna (es); punadistelschwanz (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is only found in a small area in southern Peru and marginally into western Bolivia, from the Vilcabamba-Ururbamba region, of central and southern Cusco, south through Limbani and Sandia in Puno, and into La Paz, Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 17-18,5 cm long and weigh 13-17 g.

Habitat:
The puna thistletail is found in humid elfin forests and puna grassland, mostly along the tree-line at altitudes of 2.800-3.600 m.

Diet:
They are insectivorous, gleaning arthropods from live foliage, branches as well as mosses and lichens.

Breeding:
Puna thistletails breed in September-December. The nest is a domed structure made of grass and twigs, placed on a clump of bunch grass up to 0,8 m above the ground, usually facing the edge of the elfin forests, 1-2 m away from the forest edge. The female lays 2 eggs. there is no information regarding the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is considered fairly common at a small number of localities. However, it is suspected to lose over 30% suitable habitat within its range in the next 10 years, based on a model of Amazonian deforestation, which given the susceptibility of the species to habitat fragmentation may cause a decline of over 30% over the same period. Beside accelerated deforestation, grazing and burning in the Andean tree line habitat may cause further habitat destruction and fragmentation.

Straight-billed earthcreeper

Ochetorhynchus ruficaudus

Photo by Glenn Seeholzer (Flickr)

Common name:
straight-billed earthcreeper (en); andarilho-de-bico-direito (pt); upucerthie à bec droit (fr); bandurrita de pico recto (es); geradschnabel-erdhacker (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found along the eastern slopes of the Andes, from southern Peru and Bolivia to eastern Chile and western Argentina as far south as Comodoro Rivadavia.

Size:
These birds are 16-19 cm long and weigh 28-41 g.

Habitat:
The straight-billed earthcreeper is found in rocky slopes and ravines, and dry mountain scrublands, at altitudes of 1.300-4.300 m.

Diet:
They forage on the ground and among rock crevices, taking various insects including larvae and eggs.

Breeding:
Straight-billed earthcreepers breed in December-March. they are mostly monogamous and can mate for life. They nest in natural cavities at the end of a short tunnel, in a bank or rocky crevice. the nest chamber is lined with grasses, hairs and feathers. The female lays 2 whitish eggs which are incubated by both parents for 15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 2 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. The population seems to be fairly stable, although some declines are suspected due to ongoing habitats degradation through overgrazing.

Pink-legged graveteiro

Acrobatornis fonsecai

(Photo from Flickr)

Common name:
pink-legged graveteiro (en); acrobata (pt); anabasitte à pattes roses (fr); graveteiro (es); plantagenschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species in endemic to Brasil, only being found in south-east Bahia and north -east Minas Gerais, mostly between the rivers Jequitinhonha and das Contas.

Size:
These birds are 13-14 cm long and weigh about 14 g.

Habitat:
The pink-legged graveteiro is found in the canopy and sub-canopy of extensive shade cocoa plantations, within moist tropical forests, from sea level up to an altitude of 550 m.

Diet:
They feed on insects and other arthropods, namely beetles, termites, moths, ants, insect larvae, insect eggs and spiders.

Breeding:
Pink-legged graveteiros breed in September-October. They are monogamous and both sexes help build the nest. Both sexes help build the nests, each woven with sticks, consisting of an entrance corridor leading to a single incubation chamber that is heavily lined with leaves and moss. Each pair builds up to 5 nests within a single tree, but only one is active. The others are thought to be dummy nests, used to confuse predators and parasites, but they may also serve as places to store nest construction materials. The female lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes. The chicks are raised by both parents, but the is no information regarding the length of the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - VU (Vulnerable)
This species has a relatively small breeding range and a global population estimated at 2.500-10.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be declining rapidly due to habitat loss. Virtually all forest below 400 m has been converted to cocoa plantations or completely cleared. The system of shaded cocoa plantations has secured the survival of a continuous canopy cover in places, but there is no forest regeneration owing to weeding of the understorey. During the 1990s, falls in the price of cocoa and the introduction of a fungal disease resulted in a downturn in cocoa production. Landowners have started to sell timber from the shading forests, and to shift production from cocoa to other crop-types or livestock-grazing, increasing the pressure on the pink-legged graveteiro.

Cipo canastero

Asthenes luizae

Photo by Bruno Salaroli (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
Cipo canastero (en); lenheiro-da-Serra-do-Cipó (pt); synallaxe du Cipo (fr); canastero de Cipó (es); Minas Gerais-canastero (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is endemic to Minas Gerais, in south-eastern Brazil, being found between Belo Horizonte and Montes Claros, especially at the Serra do Cipó National park and along the Espinhaço mountain range.

Size:
These birds are 15-17 cm long and weigh 25-31 g.

Habitat:
The cipo canastero is found in isolated rocky outcrops, dry, high-altitude scrublands and grasslands, at altitudes of 1.000-2.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on various invetebrates, which they glean from the ground,  rock crevices and scrubs.

Breeding:
Cipo canasteros are monogamous and breed in August-February. The nest is a spherical or conical structure made of sticks, mud, dry material and moss, which is placed on a scrub near the ground and has a small entrance hole located on the top, with a tunnel that leads to an incubation chamber covered in feathers and dry fibres. There the female lays 2-3 eggs which are incubated by both parents for 23 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 20 days after hatching, but only become fully independent 1 month later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a relatively small breeding range and a global population estimated at 50.000-10.000 individuals. This species was only discovered in 1985 and it was initially believed to have a very small and isolated population. However, later it was found to be relativelly widespread over its range. The population is suspected to be stable over most of its range, with localized declines owing to habitat degradation and some localised brood-parasitism by shiny cowbirds Molothrus bonariensis.

Rufous-breasted spinetail

Synallaxis erythrothorax

Photo by Michael Retter (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
rufous-breasted spinetail (en); joão-teneném-de-peito-ruivo (pt); synallaxe à poitrine rousse (fr); pijuí centroamericano (es); rotbrust-dickichtschlüpfer (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found in two disjunct populations, one along the Atlantic slopes of Central America from south-eastern Mexico to north-western Honduras, and another along the Pacific slopes of south-eastern Chiapas, in Mexico, southern Guatemala, and El Salvador.

Size:
These birds are 13-15,5 cm long and weigh 15-19 g.

Habitat:
The rufous-breasted spinetail is found in densely vegetated habitats, including secondary forests, scrublands, the edges of lowland rainforests and swamps. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 750 m.

Diet:
They are mostly insectivorous, plucking adult insects, caterpillars and spiders from the foliage on taking them from the ground. They also eat small berries.

Breeding:
Rufous-breasted spinetails breed in April-September. The nest  is a large, domed structure with an entrance in the small end, attaching to a tunnel that leads to the nest chamber at the large end. It is made of sticks and placed on an horizontal branch of a small tree or scrub, usually 2-4 m above the ground and near a water source such as a stream. The female lays 2-4 white or pale blue eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for 17-18 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 14-16 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and a global population estimated at 50.000-500.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats and they seem to be able to adapt to secondary habitats, thus being less affected by deforestation than other species more associated with primary rainforests.

Striped treehunter

Thripadectes holostictus

Photo by William Price (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
striped treehunter (en); trepa-musgos-listado (pt); anabate strié (fr); trepamusgos listado (es); strichelbaumspäher (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This South American species is found along the eastern slopes of the Andes, from south-western Venezuela to central Bolivia.

Size:
These birds are 20-21 cm long.

Habitat:
The striped treehunter is mostly found on the undergrowth of mountain rainforests, but also in degraded patches of former forests, at altitudes of 900-3.000 m.

Diet:
They hunt among dense vegetation, taking various invertebrates.

Breeding:
Striped treehunters breed in October-January. They nest is made of rootlets and placed in a burrow excavated into a steep bank or vegetation-covered road-cut. The female lays 2-3 eggs which are are incubated for 13-17 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 20-23 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Common miner

Geositta cunicularia

Photo by Marcos Suárez (Aves del Golfo Ártabro)

Common name:
common miner (en); curriqueiro (pt); géositte mineuse (fr); minero común (es); Patagonienerdhacker (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found from southern Peru and Bolivia, through Chile and into Argentina, southern Brazil and Uruguay.

Size:
These birds are 14-17 cm long and weigh 20-34 g.

Habitat:
The common miner is found in open grasslands, including dry grasslands and high-altitude grasslands, in scrublands and sandy areas such as coastal dunes. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 5.000 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on various arthropods, including their eggs and larvae, but will also take some seeds.

Breeding:
Common miners breed in September-March, the exact season varying between different parts of their range. They nest in a deep burrow, up to 3 m long, excavated by both sexes in sandy bank, often in sloping ground. The nest-chamber is padded with grasses, flowers, rootlets, animal hairs and feathers. The female lays 2-3 white eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for about 14 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 18-20 days after hatching. Each pair raises 1-2 broods per season.

Conservation:
IUCN status -LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction, but the common miner is not considered threatened at present.

Alagoas foliage-gleaner

Philydor novaesi

Photo by Ciro Albano (NE Brazil Birding)

Common name:
Alagoas foliage-gleaner (en); limpa-folha-do-nordeste (pt); anabate d'Alagoas (fr); ticotico de Alagoas (es); Alagoas-blattspäher (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is endemic to eastern Brazil, only being found in Alagoas and Pernambuco.

Size:
These birds are 18 cm long and weigh 30-38 g.

Habitat:
The Alagoas foliage-gleaner is found along the edges of clearings in interior moist tropical forests, and sometimes also in old secondary forests, at altitudes of 400-550 m.

Diet:
They glean the foliage and bark of trees and dead wood in search of adult and larval insects, namely ants, beetles and grasshoppers.

Breeding:
There is virtually no information regarding the breeding behaviour of the Alagoas foliage-gleaner. Fledged young have been found in January.

Conservation:
IUCN status - CR (Critically Endangered)
This species has a very small breeding range and the global population is estimated at just 50-250 individuals. This species was only discovered in 1979 but the population is believed to be declining rapidly owing to the widespread and ongoing clearance of forest through logging, felling for charcoal and for conversion to sugar cane plantations and pastures. Beside habitat destruction and fragmentation, this species may also be threatened by climate change as distribution lays close to the maximum altitude within its range.

Blackish cinclodes

Cinclodes antarcticus

Photo by Laurent Demongin (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
blackish cinclodes (en); pedreiro-negro (pt); cinclode fuligineux (fr); remolinera negra (es); rußbrauner-uferwipper (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found in the southern tip of South America, in Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland islands.

Size:
These birds are 18-23 cm long and weigh 55-70 g.

Habitat:
The blackish cinclodes is mostly found in rocky shorelines, tidal pools, rocky cliffs and offshore islands and also in snady beaches and among grass tussocks. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 100 m.

Diet:
They feed on small insects and small marine invertebrates found among rotting kelp, but also take regurgitated fish from sea bird colonies, carrion and human garbage.

Breeding:
Blackish cinclodes breed in September-January. The cup-shaped nest is made of grass, lined with feathers and placed under rocks, grass clumps, buildings, in a hole in the ground or in an abandoned petrel burrow. There the female lays 1-3 eggs which are incubated for about 2 weeks. The chicks fledge about 2 weeks after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a restricted breeding range, but it is described as fairly common. The population in the Falkland islands is estimated at 20.000 individuals. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to predation by invasive species, especially cats and rats, but the blackish cinclodes seems to thrive on rat-free islands.