| Rufous-throated antbird | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thamnophilidae |
| Genus: | Gymnopithys |
| Species: | G. rufigula |
| Binomial name | |
| Gymnopithys rufigula (Boddaert, 1783) | |
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The rufous-throated antbird (Gymnopithys rufigula) 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. [2]
The rufous-throated antbird was described by the French polymath Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon in 1775 in his Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux from a specimen collected in Cayenne, French Guiana. [3] The bird was also illustrated in a hand-colored plate engraved by François-Nicolas Martinet in the Planches Enluminées D'Histoire Naturelle which was produced under the supervision of Edme-Louis Daubenton to accompany Buffon's text. [4] Neither the plate caption nor Buffon's description included a scientific name but in 1783 the Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert coined the binomial name Turdus rufigula in his catalogue of the Planches Enluminées. [5] The rufous-throated antbird is now placed in the genus Gymnopithys that was introduced by the French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1857 with the rufous-throated antbird as the type species. [6] [2] The name Gymnopithys combines the Ancient Greek gumnos meaning "bare" or "naked" with the name of the antbird genus Pithys that was erected by the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1818. The specific epithet rufigula combines the Latin words rufus "red" and gula "throat". [7] The rufous-throated antbird shares genus Gymnopithys with the bicolored antbird (G. bicolor) and white-throated antbird (G. leucaspis). [2]
The rufous-throated antbird has three subspecies, the nominate G. r. rufigula (Boddaert, 1783), G. r. pallidus (Cherrie, 1909), and G. r. pallidigula (Phelps & Phelps Jr, 1947). [2]
The rufous-throated antbird is 11.5 to 14 cm (4.5 to 5.5 in) long and weighs 26 to 32 g (0.92 to 1.1 oz). Adult males of the nominate subspecies have a brownish black forehead and lores, an olive-brown crown and nape, and bare blue skin around the eye. Their back and rump are olive-brown with a hidden white patch between the scapulars. Their wings and tail are dark yellow-brown. Their cheeks and upper throat are rufous-chestnut, their lower throat and upper breast cinnamon, and their sides, flanks, and belly olive-brown. Adult females are duller than males and their intrascapular patch is cinnamon. Subspecies G. r. pallidigula has a paler throat and belly center and a more ochraceous breast than the nominate. G. r. pallidus resembles pallidigula with a paler and more olivaceous back. [8] [9] [10] The subspecies are so similar that they may represent clinal variation. [8]
The rufous-throated antbird is a species of the Guianan Shield. The nominate subspecies is the most widespread. It is found from the drainage of the Rio Cuyuní in extreme eastern Venezuela east through the Guianas and in northern Brazil east of the Rio Negro and north of the Amazon. Subspecies G. r. pallidus is found in southern Venezuela's Bolívar state except for the Cuyuní drainage and in Amazonas state except for the vicinity of Pica Yavita-Pimichín. G. r. pallidigula has a limited range near Pica Yavita-Pimichín in extreme southern Venezuela's Amazonas state. [8] [10]
The rufous-throated antbird primarily inhabits humid lowland and foothill terra firme evergreen forest. It almost entirely remains in the forest undergrowth and seldom enters open areas or crosses streams and roads. In elevation it occurs below 900 m (3,000 ft) in most of its range but is found locally as high as 1,200 m (3,900 ft). [8] [9] [10]
The rufous-throated antbird is not known to migrate. [8]
The rufous-throated antbird is an obligate ant follower that feeds on a wide variety of arthropods that flee foraging army ant swarms, especially those of Eciton burchelli . Its diet also includes small lizards. It typically forages individually, in pairs, and in family groups, perching within about 1 m (3 ft) of the ground though as high as 3 m (10 ft), and sallying or pouncing to the ground after prey. Up to 20 birds have been noted at a swarm. [8] [9] [10]
The rufous-throated antbird appears to nest at any time in Brazil but its season is concentrated between January and April. Its seasons span at least December to June in Guyana, June/July and November/December in French Guiana, and December in Venezuela. The few known nests were small cups variously made from dead palm leaves, small twigs, and vine stems with a scanty softer lining. Two were placed in cavities in rotten tree stumps. The usual clutch size is two eggs. The female alone incubates at night and both parents are believed to incubate during the day. Both parents provision nestlings. The incubation period is not known; fledging occurs 13 to 14 days after hatch. [8] [11]
The rufous-throated antbird has a large vocal repertoire, most of which are calls. Its primary song is loud, "a high, whinnylike [series] of notes that quickly rise and fall, we-whe-whee-HE-He-he'hu'we'we. [10] It has also been described as "complicated; starts with some very high, level, fluted 'weee' notes, which accelerate and descend, becoming a short rattle before leveling-out and decelerating as low grating 'sree-sree-sree' notes". [9] Its calls include a "harsh, vibrant 'chirr'...diminishing slightly in pitch and intensity, and abrupt 'chup' notes, usually doubled but also in groups of 3–4". [8]
The IUCN has assessed the rufous-throated antbird as being of Least Concern. It has a very large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. [1] It is considered fairly common across its range. It occurs in many protected areas and its range "encompasses extensive areas of intact habitat which, although not formally protected, are seemingly at little risk of development in [the] near term". [8]
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The rufous-capped antthrush is a small species of bird in the family Formicariidae located in the order Passeriformes. It is considered to be uncommon but widespread, found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. The rufous-capped antthrush is typically found inhabiting the shady floor of tall, humid forests on solid ground, and is occasionally spotted in transitional forests (várzea) and savanna forests (Suriname).
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The wing-banded wren is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The black-throated antbird is a species of passerine 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.
The wing-banded antbird is a species of passerine bird in subfamily Myrmornithinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The hooded tanager is a species of bird in the tanager family Thraupidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, and heavily degraded former forest.
The cinereous becard is a species of bird in the family Tityridae. The term cinereous describes its colouration. It has traditionally been placed in Cotingidae or Tyrannidae, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae, where it is now placed by the South American Classification Committee.
The black-headed antbird is a species of passerine bird in the antbird family Thamnophilidae. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The red-necked woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
The yellow-tufted woodpecker is a species of woodpecker. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest.
The yellow-throated woodpecker is a species of bird in subfamily Picinae of the woodpecker family Picidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
The Guianan warbling antbird is an insectivorous bird in the antbird family, Thamnophilidae. It is found at lower levels in humid forest in the Guianas, far eastern Venezuela, and north-eastern Brazil.
