Ash-throated Gnateater
Conopophaga peruviana
Looks like a ball of fluff with legs and a stubby beak; very short-tailed, with a compact body. Males are grayish brown with a gray face and eyebrow; females are orangey tan with a tan eyebrow. Both sexes have unique white head plumes that they raise when agitated. Its call is often overlooked but is a good way to find one: listen for a single short, explosive note: “shrECK.”
Identification
The ash-throated gnateater is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 22 to 26 g (0.78 to 0.92 oz). The male's face, back, and breast are gray, with the back being darker and having a brownish wash. The crown is brownish, the throat white, and there is a white tuft behind the eye. The lower belly is brown. The female's face and breast are rufous and the upper parts are brown.
Taxonomy
The placement of ash-throated gnateater in a linear sequence remains unsettled. The Clements taxonomy places it between chestnut-belted gnateater (Conopophaga aurita) and Ceara gnateater (C. cearae), while the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) places it between hooded gnateater (C. roberti) and Ceara gnateater, with chestnut-belted gnateater preceding hooded. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Conopophaga peruviana
- Authority
- des Murs, 1856
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Conopophagidae
- Genus
- Conopophaga
Range and habitat
The ash-throated gnateater is found in the upper Amazon Basin in eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, far western Brazil, and slightly into Bolivia's La Paz Department. It primarily inhabits the open understory of terra firme forest, especially vine tangles and treefalls. It can also be found in várzea forest and on slopes and ridgetops. In much of its range it is found up to 600 m (2,000 ft), but usually only up to 400 m (1,300 ft) in Bolivia and occasionally as high as 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in Peru.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The ash-throated gnateater forages on or near the ground for small arthropods.<p>Little has been published about the ash-throated gnateater's breeding habits. The few described nests were shallow cups placed less than 1 m (3.3 ft) above the ground.<p>The ash-throated gnateater's song has been described as "hollow-sounding hwrickik! notes and as a "bisyllabic 'sneezing sound'" [1]. One of its calls is [2].
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Dryobates affinis
Small brown woodpecker of lowland rainforest. Upperparts olive brown with small red spots (“stains”) on the shoulder (but these may be hard to see). Males have a red crown and nape. Found in a variety of humid forest habitats, including mature rainforest, secondary rainforest, and forest edges. Distinguished from the similar Little Woodpecker by its larger size, plainer face, and small red wing spots, as well as by voice; also, female has yellowish nape (gray in female Little). Red-stained also occurs in more mature forest habitats than Little, like mature rainforest and tall secondary growth (Little prefers dense riverside vegetation and successional growth). Call a fast series of high raptor-like yelps: “keer, keer, keer, …”, individual notes clearer and more descending than those of Little Woodpecker.
Pitta-like Ground-Roller
Atelornis pittoides
Chunky, long-legged, colorful bird. White shoulder marks are conspicuous in flight. Less shy and more approachable than the other ground-rollers. Found in eastern and northern rainforest and in adjacent scrub. Feeds in the understory, avoiding disturbance by fleeing on the ground or making short flights. Song is a quick “bwuup” note that is repeated slowly, delivered from a perch in the mid-story. Lacks the intricate scaly marks of Scaly Ground-Roller and the rufous head and body of Rufous-headed Ground-Roller.
Beaudouin's Snake-Eagle
Circaetus beaudouini
Chunky dark brown raptor with a white belly marked by thin bars. Immatures are brown when perched, and show rufous patches in the underwing in flight. Found in savanna habitats. Soars frequently and sometimes hovers. Very similar to Short-toed Snake-Eagle, but has darker upperparts and narrower dark bars on the belly; the front of the underwings looks white and unbarred in flight. Immature similar to immature Black-breasted and Short-toed Snake-Eagles, but identified by the rufous patches on the underwings.
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