Marañon Crescentchest

Melanopareia maranonica

Gorgeous little bird with a small range in the Marañon Valley of northwestern Peru and adjacent border areas of Ecuador (south of Zumba). Note the black mask, white eyebrow and throat, rich chestnut underparts, and white edges to wing feathers. Similar to Elegant Crescentchest, but wings lack chestnut patches and are more strongly marked with white; ranges do not overlap. Marañon Crescentchest inhabits arid scrub where it stays low, often on the ground. Typical song is a series of 20 or more evenly spaced clicks.

Identification

The Marañón crescentchest is 16 cm (6.3 in) long. A female specimen weighed 23 g (0.81 oz). The male's crown and nape are black and its back and rump grayish olive. The chin and throat are white or light buff, and the throat is bordered on its sides and bottom with darker buff. It has broad black band just below the throat that merges into a chestnut breast; below the breast it is tawny. The female has a similar pattern. However, the black band is narrower and the underparts from that band to the tail are an ochraceous tawny.

Taxonomy

The crescentchests (genus Melanopareia) were previously included in family Rhinocryptidae, the tapaculos. A 2010 publication confirmed earlier work and created their present genus. The Marañón crescentchest is monotypic. It and the elegant crescentchest (Melanopareia elegans) might form a superspecies.

Scientific name
Melanopareia maranonica
Authority
Chapman, 1924
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Melanopareiidae
Genus
Melanopareia

Range and habitat

The Marañón crescentchest has a very small range; it is found in the valley of the Marañón River and its tributaries in northern Peru and slightly into adjacent Ecuador. In elevation it occurs from 200 to 700 m (660 to 2,300 ft). It inhabits tropical deciduous forest and dry scrub.

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

The Marañón crescentchest's diet has not been described; it is presumed to be insects and perhaps seeds and other vegetable matter. Nothing is known about the species' breeding phenology, but its nest is assumed to be a cup like those of other Melanopareia species.<p>The Marañón crescentchest's song is a "series of rich notes: tu tu-tu-tu'tu'tu'tu'tu'tu'tu'tu" [1]. It has a variety of calls [2].

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

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Beautiful Sunbird

Cinnyris pulchellus

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Rufous-faced Antpitta

Rufous-faced Antpitta

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Medium-sized antpitta found in the Andes of Bolivia and far southeastern Peru near the border. Adult is grayish-brown with a rufous face and a white throat and belly. The rarely-seen juvenile is darker and heavily barred with buff. Inhabits dense understory of humid forest; usually stays on the ground when not singing, making it very hard to see. Typical song consists of three short whistles; the first note is lower in pitch than the other two.

Sunda Cuckoo

Sunda Cuckoo

Cuculus lepidus

Typical Cuculus cuckoo: most adults are gray with black stripes on a white breast and belly, but some females are “hepatic”; they appear rufous overall with extensive barring. Virtually identical to Himalayan and Oriental cuckoos, which migrate through and winter in Sunda’s range; look for Sunda’s more contrasting darker gray upperparts, wider bars on the underparts, and buffier unmarked vent. Juvenile is dark grayish black above with white edging to the feathers. Like most cuckoos, more often heard than seen; listen for its 2–3 note hooting song, which averages higher than that of Oriental. A species of montane and foothill forest.

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