The Rio de Janeiro antbird (Cercomacra brasiliana) is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to Brazil.[2][1]
| Rio de Janeiro antbird | |
|---|---|
| |
| Near Alem Pariba, Brazil | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thamnophilidae |
| Genus: | Cercomacra |
| Species: | C. brasiliana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cercomacra brasiliana Hellmayr, 1905
| |
| |
Taxonomy and systematics
editThe Rio de Janeiro antbird is monotypic.[2] Its closest relatives within genus Cercomacra have not been determined.[3]
Description
editThe Rio de Janeiro antbird is 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long. Adult males are mostly gray, with darker upperparts and paler underparts. They have a white patch between their scapulars, a hidden white patch under the scapulars, and white tips on their wing coverts. Their tail is blackish gray with narrow white tips on the feathers. Their wings have a brown tinge. Females have olive-brown upperparts with a whitish area around their eye, a minimal white interscapular patch, and a grayer rump. Their wings are darker than their back. Their tail is pale olivaceous brown. Their throat and underparts are bright ochraceous tawny.[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
editThe Rio de Janeiro antbird is found in southeastern Brazil from southeastern Bahia south through eastern Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo into Rio de Janeiro state. It inhabits the dense understorey to mid-storey of secondary evergreen forest and particularly favors areas with abundant tangles of vines. In elevation it occurs from near sea level to about 950 m (3,100 ft).[4][5]
Behavior
editMovement
editThe Rio de Janeiro antbird is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.[4]
Feeding
editThe Rio de Janeiro antbird's diet has not been detailed but is known to be primarily insects; it probably also includes spiders. Indivuals, pairs, and family groups usually forage between about 1 and 6 m (3 and 20 ft) above the ground. They hop through vine tangles and other dense vegetation and usually take prey by gleaning and lunging from a perch, and also with short flutter-flights. They occasionally briefly join mixed-species feeding flocks that pass through their territory but are not known to follow army ants.[4][5]
Breeding
editThe Rio de Janeiro antbird's eggs are light brown covered with dark brown spots and flecks. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.[4]
Vocalization
editThe male Rio de Janeiro antbird's song is "2–4 rapidly delivered, abrupt, barely audible notes followed by [a] longer...harsh note". Females simultaneously sing irregularly repeated "notes sounding like 'cup' ". The species' calls include "a rapidly delivered series of short notes, first note more emphatic, and frequency-modulated versions of loudsong notes".[4]
Status
editThe IUCN originally in 1988 assessed the Rio de Janeiro antbird as Threatened and since 2004 as Near Threatened. It has a limited range and its estimated population of between 10,000 and 20,000 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing. "Although presumably threatened by deforestation...this species's [sic] apparent tolerance of secondary habitats...may reduce the impact of habitat degradation and fragmentation, and where the species occurs it does appear to show resilience to forest fragmentation."[1] It is patchily distributed and considered generally rare to uncommon though locally common.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c BirdLife International (2017). "Rio de Janeiro Antbird Cercomacra brasiliana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22701666A110863043. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22701666A110863043.en. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ a b Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2024). "Antbirds". IOC World Bird List. v 14.1. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b c d e f g Zimmer, K. and M.L. Isler (2020). Rio de Janeiro Antbird (Cercomacra brasiliana), 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.rdjant1.01 retrieved July 15, 2024
- ^ a b c van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 252–253. ISBN 978-0-19-530155-7.