Giant antshrike

Batara cinerea

Photo by Bruno Rennó (Flickr)

Common name:
giant antshrike (en); matracão (pt); batara géant (fr); batará gigante (es); riesen-ameisenwürger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Thamnophilidae

Range:
This species has 3 subspecies with disjunct distributions. B.c. cinerea is found in south-eastern Brazil, from Espírito Santo to Rio Grande do Sul, and marginally across the border into Argentina. B. c. argentina is found in eastern Bolivia, western Paraguay and north-eastern Argentina. B.c. excubitor is found along the eastern slopes of the Andes, from central Bolivia to northern Argentina.

Size:
The largest of all antshrikes, these birds are 27-35 cm long and weigh 100-155 g.

Habitat:
The giant antshrike is mostly found in the understorey and mid-storey of moist tropical forests, both in lowland and mountainous areas, but also use moist savannas, dry scrublands, and rivers and streams. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 2.600 m.

Diet:
They feed on large insects, such as beetles, and spiders, as well as snails and slugs, and small vertebrate such as frogs, small rodents, small lizards and snakes, and young birds.

Breeding:
Giant antshrikes are monogamous and mate for life. They breed in October-December and nest in a large cup placed in a fork in a small tree or scrub, 1-3 m above the ground. The female lays 2 eggs, which she incubates alone, but the chicks are fed by both parents. there is no information regarding the length of the incubation and fledgling periods.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range but is described as uncommon. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats, and there are several seemingly healthy populations in several large parks and reserves in Brazil, among them Itatiaia, Serra dos Órgãos, Aparados da Serra and Iguaçu.

African pied wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Photo by Ken Havard (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
African pied wagtail (en); alvéola-preta-e-branca (pt); bergeronnette pie (fr); lavandera africana (es); witwenstelze (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Motacillidae

Range:
This species is found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea to Ethiopia and south to South Africa, as well as along the Nile valley north to southern Egypt. They are mainly absent from southern Angola, Namibia, Botswana and western South Africa.

Size:
These birds are 19-20,5 cm long and weigh 22-33 g.

Habitat:
The African pied wagtail is mostly found along rivers and other water bodies with sandy banks or scattered boulders, but it may also occupy rocky coastlines. They also use man-made habitats, such as ponds, parks, playing fields, golf courses, suburban gardens and sewage works. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on various insects, such as flies, beetles, grasshoppers, dragonflies, larval and adult butterflies, ants and termites, as well as small crabs, worms, tadpoles, small fishes and human food scraps.

Breeding:
African pied wagtails are monogamous, solitary nesters. They breed in August-April and the nest is built by both sexes, consisting of a deep cup made of dry grass, weeds, roots, stems, leaves, downy seeds, flood debris, string and other coarse materials, and lined with rootlets, fine grass, hair and feathers. It is typically placed close to water on the ground or in vegetation, such as reeds, grass and flood debris, or in man-made sites such as outbuildings, holes in walls, building ledges, bridges, roofs and even boats. the female lays 2-5 eggs which are incubated by both sexes for 12-15 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 15-18 days after hatching, but only become fully independent about 2 weeks later.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and is described as common in much of this range, although common to uncommon in West Africa. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Olivaceous thornbill

Chalcostigma olivaceum

Photo by Steve Arlow (Neotropical Birds)

Common name:
olivaceous thornbill (en); colibri-oliváceo (pt); métallure olivâtre (fr); colibrí oliváceo (es); braunes glanzschwänzchen (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Apodiformes
Family Trochilidae

Range:
This species is patchily distributed along the high Andes of southern Peru and northern Bolivia, from the Cordillera Blanca south to La Paz.

Size:
These birds are 12-15 cm long and weigh 6,5-9 g.

Habitat:
The olivaceous thornbill is mostly found in puna grasslands and around cushion plants, also using low scrublands and the edges of dense Polylepis-Gynoxys woodlands. They are only found at altitudes of 3.100-4.700 m.

Diet:
They eat both nectar and small arthropods, being known to visit prostrate red flowers such as Gentianella sp. and possibly Castilleja sp.

Breeding:
Olivaceous thornbills breed in January-May. Males are territorial and possibly have little part in the breeding process after mating. The female lays 2 eggs which she incubates alone. There is no available information regarding the length of the incubation and fledgling periods.

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

Canyon wren

Catherpes mexicanus

Photo by Waldemar Sikorski (Photography on the Net)

Common name:
canyon wren (en); carriça-dos-desfiladeiros (pt); troglodyte des canyons (fr); cucarachero barranquero (es); schluchtenzaunkönig (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Troglodytidae

Range:
This species is western North America, from British Columbia to Minnesota and South Dakota and south to Mexico as far as Chiapas.

Size:
These birds are 11-15 cm long and have a wingspan of 19 cm. They weigh 10-18 g.

Habitat:
The canyon wren is found in arid areas with canyons and cliffs, rocky areas and boulder piles, as well as dry scrublands. They are present from sea level up to an altitude of 3.000 m.

Diet:
They feed on spiders and insects collected from rock crevices or sometimes in flight.

Breeding:
Canyon wrens are monogamous and pair bonds may last more than one breeding season. They nest on rock crevices and cliff, often under a ledge, where they build a cup made of twigs and grasses, and lined with lichens, plant down, wool, spider webs and feathers. The female lays 4-7 white eggs with reddish-brown and grey speckles, which she incubates alone for 12-18 days while being fed by the male. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 10 days after hatching. Each pair produces 1-2 broods per year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 400.000 individuals. The population has undergone a small decline over the last 4 decades, but it is not threatened as their secluded habitats protect them from most human activities. Recreational rock climbing may disturb nesting areas.

twigs and grasses and is then lined with lichens, plant down, wool, cobwebs, or feathers.

twigs and grasses and is then lined with lichens, plant down, wool, cobwebs, or feathers.

twigs and grasses and is then lined with lichens, plant down, wool, cobwebs, or feathers.

 

 

cliffs, steep-sided canyons, rocky outcrops, and boulder piles

cliffs, steep-sided canyons, rocky outcrops, and boulder piles

Malia

Malia grata

Photo by Rob Hutchinson (Oriental Bird Images)

Common name:
malia (en); malia (pt); malia des Célèbes (fr); timalí malia (es); mooswaldtimalie (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Timaliidae

Range:
This species indemic to the island of Sulawesi, in Indonesia, being restricted to the mountain forests located inland.

Size:
These birds are 28-29 cm long.

Habitat:
The malia is only found in primary mountain rainforests, at altitudes of 900-2.400 m.

Diet:
They forage in small groups, often together with other species, searching for invertebrates, particularly beetles and grasshoppers, among rotten wood, dislodge moss and loose bark.

Breeding:
There is no available information on the reproduction of the malia.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large but restricted breeding range. Although the global population size has not been quantified, the malia is described as widespread and locally moderately common. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation, but it is not considered threatened at present.

Musk lorikeet

Glossopsitta concinna

Photo by Doug Janson (Wikipedia)

Common name:
musk lorikeet (en); lóri-almiscarado (pt); lori à bandeau rouge (fr); lori almizclero (es); moschuslori (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Psittaciformes
Family Psittacidae

Range:
This species is endemic to south-eastern Australia, being found from south-eastern Queensland to Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. It also occurs in Tasmania.

Size:
These birds are 20-23 cm long and weigh 50-90 g.

Habitat:
The musk lorikeet is found in open Eucalyptus woodlands, riverine woodlands, plantations, and rural and sub-urban gardens.

Diet:
They feed on nectar, pollen and blossoms, especially of Eucalyptus, flowers, young shoots and buds such as those of Callistemon citrinus and Grevillea, small fruits and occasionally insects. They may also take cultivated crops and grapes.

Breeding:
Musk lorikeets breed in August-January. They nest in a hollow limb or hole in a tree, lined with chewed or decayed wood, and usually located high up in an Eucalyptus near water. The female lays 2 white eggs, which she incubates alone for 22-24 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 50 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a large breeding range and the global population is estimated above 100.000 individuals and described as very common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Siffling cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Photo by David Beadle (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
siffling cisticola (en); fuinha-de-asa-curta (pt); cisticole à ailes courtes (fr); cistícola alicorto (es); kurzflügel-zistensänger (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Cisticolidae

Range:
This species is found in sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to Angola, Zambia and southern Mozambique. They are mostly absent from the Congo river basin.

Size:
These birds are 10-11 cm long and weigh 6-11 g.

Habitat:
The siffling cisticola is mostly found in dry savannas and woodlands, particularly miombo Brachystegia, but also uses scrublands, moist tropical forests, vegetation along drainage lines and marshes, and edges of cultivated areas.

Diet:
They forage on the ground or in grass tufts, mainly taking insects such as termites, grasshoppers, beetles and bugs.

Breeding:
Siffling cisticolas breed in November-April. The nest is a compact sphere with a side entrance, made of dry grass and leaves reinforced with spider webs. It is typically placed very near the ground in a grass tuft or small scrub. The female lays 2-4 eggs, which she incubates alone for about 14 days. the chicks fledge about 17 days after hatching.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and, although the global population size has not been quantified, it is described as locally common. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.