Masafuera Rayadito
Aphrastura masafuerae
Restricted to largely inaccessible Isla Selkirk (formerly Isla Masafuera) in Juan Fernández Islands, Chile, where it is uncommon and restricted to higher elevations. Favors dense fern forest and is often somewhat skulking, although can be tame and confiding when found. No similar species on the island. Plumage resembles Thorn-tailed Rayadito of mainland Chile, but less brightly patterned with duller pale eyebrow and duskier underparts.
Identification
The Masafuera rayadito is 14 to 15 cm (5.5 to 5.9 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a poorly defined buff-brown supercilium on a dusky face. Their forehead is whitish with narrow rufous streaks and their crown is dark dusky brown. Their back is dull brown and their rump rufous-brown. Their wing coverts are blackish with tawny tips and their flight feathers are blackish with dull rufous bases. Their tail is mostly rufous with blackish bases on all but the central pair of feathers; the ends of the feathers lack barbs, giving a spiny appearance. Their throat is whitish, their breast and belly dull buffy gray-brown with a rufescent tinge, and their flanks and undertail coverts rufescent. Their iris is brown, their maxilla horn-brown or yellowish white with a horn tinge, their mandible yellowish horn, and their legs and feet horn-gray.
Taxonomy
The Masafuera rayadito is monotypic. It shares genus Aprrastura with the thorn-tailed rayadito (M. spinicauda) of the South American mainland. They are thought to have diverged in the Pleistocene.
- Scientific name
- Aphrastura masafuerae
- Authority
- (Philippi & Landbeck, 1866)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Aphrastura
Range and habitat
The Masafuera rayadito is found only on Alejandro Selkirk Island in the Juan Fernández Archepeligo, about 670 km (360 nmi; 420 mi) off the coast of Chile. It inhabits thick undergrowth in semi-humid to humid montane scrub and also wooded areas with much Dicksonia externa tree fern. It often occurs along streams, and often in stands of the canelo tree Drimys confertifolia. In elevation it usually occurs between 800 and 1,300 m (2,600 and 4,300 ft) but occasionally goes as low as 400 m (1,300 ft) in the austral winter.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: stable.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Abyssinian Ground-Thrush
Geokichla piaggiae
Large, brown-backed, orange-breasted thrush with bold white wingbars. Found in the understory of montane forest. Generally shy and scarce. The song is a musical and typically thrush-like, a chatty and cheerful series of whistles and chuckles. The call is a very thin, rising trill. Very similar to Orange Ground-Thrush, but has a different pattern on the head: an orange crown, a plain face, and a complete white eye-ring.
Tumbes Hummingbird
Thaumasius baeri
A plain hummingbird found in dry forest and scrub in southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru. It is dull green with light gray underparts, a white spot behind the eye, and a thick, slightly curved bill. Some birds show very faint spots on the throat. Similar to Spot-throated Hummingbird, but throat markings are much less conspicuous or entirely absent. Ranges are also different; Tumbes Hummingbird is found only on the Pacific side of the Andes and does not reach the Marañon drainage.
Rock Partridge
Alectoris graeca
This well-marked European endemic prefers rocky slopes and dry areas of hill and montane forest. Up to 3,000 m (10,000 ft), but can be found in lower-lying open flat areas with sparse grass and low bushes in some regions. Highly territorial and vocal, giving an irregular series of "chick chek pe-ti-chek chi-chek" notes, particularly in the early morning. Often runs away rather than flying. Throat is white, while similar looking Chukar has a creamy throat; virtually no overlap in range with other similar species.
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