Harlequin antbird

Last updated

Harlequin antbird
Rhegmatorhina berlepschi Harlequim Antbird (female); Amazonia National Park, Itaituba, Para, Brazil (cropped).jpg
Female
Rhegmatorhina berlepschi Harlequim Antbird (male); Amazonia National Park, Itaituba, Para, Brazil (cropped).jpg
Male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thamnophilidae
Genus: Rhegmatorhina
Species:
R. berlepschi
Binomial name
Rhegmatorhina berlepschi
(Snethlage, 1907)
Rhegmatorhina berlepschi map.svg

The harlequin antbird (Rhegmatorhina berlepschi) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". [2] It is endemic to Brazil. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The five members of genus Rhegmatorhina are sisters to the three species of genus Gymnopithys . [4] [2] The harlequin antbird frequently hybridizes with the congeneric white-breasted antbird (R. hoffmannsi). [5] The harlequin antbird is monotypic. [2]

Description

The harlequin antbird is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long. Both sexes have a small crest and a pale grayish green ring of bare skin around the eye. Adult males have a dark brownish crown; their crest and nape are rufous-chestnut. Their upperparts, wings, and tail are olive-brown with rufous edges on the wing feathers. Their face and throat are black and their breast's center rufous-chestnut. The sides of their neck and the rest of their underparts are gray with an olive-brown tinge on the flanks. Adult females are similar to males with the addition of buff-edged black tips on their upperpart feathers and wing coverts and black and pale buff banding on their sides and lower breast. [6] [7]

Distribution and habitat

The harlequin antbird has a very limited range in Amazonian Brazil. It is bounded by the Amazon on the north, the Rio Madeira on the west, and the Rio Tapajós on the east. Its southern limit is indistinct. The species inhabits the understorey of humid terra firme evergreen forest. Its range is entirely below 100 m (300 ft) of elevation. [6] [7]

Behavior

Movement

The harlequin antbird is a year-round resident. [6]

Feeding

The harlequin antbird is an obligate ant follower that feeds on a variety of arthropods that flee foraging army ant swarms, such as those of Eciton burchelli . It typically forages individually, in pairs, and in family groups, perching within about 1 m (3 ft) of the ground and sallying or pouncing to the ground after prey. Several family groups may attend an ant swarm. It is dominant over smaller antbirds but subordinate to larger antbirds and species of other families such as woodcreepers. [6] [7] [8]

Breeding

The harlequin antbird is believed to breed late in the rainy season, perhaps beginning in December. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology. [6]

Vocalization

The harlequin antbird's song is a "very high, slightly descending series of loud, sharp notes, the 1st drawn out, the rest becoming shorter". [7] Its calls include a "harsh, vibrant 'chirr' [and an] abrupt 'chip' ". [6]

Status

The IUCN has assessed the harlequin antbird as being of Least Concern. It has a limited range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified. [1] It is considered uncommon and "considered to be of high sensitivity to human disturbance". Much of its range is within Tapajós National Park, which however is "highly threatened by gold-miners, by squatters and, probably most seriously, by hydro-electric development of Tapajós Basin". [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-throated antshrike</span> Species of bird

The black-throated antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunulated antbird</span> Species of bird

The lunulated antbird is a species of insectivorous bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-throated antbird</span> Species of bird

The white-throated antbird is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-bellied antwren</span> Species of bird

The rufous-bellied antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long-winged antwren</span> Species of bird

The long-winged antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amazonian streaked antwren</span> Species of bird

The Amazonian streaked antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sclater's antwren</span> Species of bird

Sclater's antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rio Suno antwren</span> Species of bird

The Rio Suno antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut-crested antbird</span> Species of bird

The chestnut-crested antbird is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil and Colombia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bare-eyed antbird</span> Species of bird

The bare-eyed antbird, occasionally known as the Santarem antbird, is a Vulnerable species of insectivorous passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-breasted antbird</span> Species of bird

The white-breasted antbird is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hairy-crested antbird</span> Species of bird

The hairy-crested antbird is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Band-tailed antshrike</span> Species of bird

The band-tailed antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saturnine antshrike</span> Species of bird

The saturnine antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluish-slate antshrike</span> Species of bird

The bluish-slate antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black antshrike</span> Species of bird

The black antshrike is a species of insectivorous bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocha antshrike</span> Species of bird

The cocha antshrike is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natterer's slaty antshrike</span> Species of bird

Natterer's slaty antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia and Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bolivian slaty antshrike</span> Species of bird

The Bolivian slaty antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufous-winged antshrike</span> Species of bird

The rufous-winged antshrike is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Harlequin Antbird Rhegmatorhina berlepschi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22701904A93853959. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22701904A93853959.en . Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2024). "Antbirds". IOC World Bird List. v 14.1. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  3. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 4 March 2024. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved March 5, 2024
  4. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 4 March 2024. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved March 5, 2024
  5. Isler, M.L., Bravo, G.A. and Brumfield, R.T. (2014). Systematics of the obligate ant-following clade of antbirds (Aves, Passeriformes, Thamnophilidae). Wilson J. Orn. 126(4): 635–648
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Zimmer, K. and M.L. Isler (2020). Harlequin Antbird (Rhegmatorhina berlepschi), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.harant1.01 retrieved May 26, 2024
  7. 1 2 3 4 van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 262–263. ISBN   978-0-19-530155-7.
  8. Willis, Edwin O. (1969). "On the behavior of five species of Rhegmatorhina, ant-following antbirds of the Amazon basin" (PDF). Wilson Bulletin. 81: 362–395.