Tepui Wren
Troglodytes rufulus
Small, rufous-brown bird of tepui undergrowth. Readily identified by small size, rufous-brown plumage, buffy eyebrow, and (at close range) black barring on wings and tail. Occurs in mossy forest understory and stunted forest at middle and high elevations of the tepui region. Usually remains in dense cover and can be difficult to see, but it will sing from exposed perches. Found in pairs, which forage for insects on and near the ground and typically do not join mixed-species flocks. Song is a high, metallic pair of notes slurred together, the second note lower-pitched, repeated at length and sometimes extended into a tinkling, jumbled series. Calls are harsh scolds reminiscent of other wrens. Distinguished from Flutist Wren (only other wren in range) by strongly rufous coloration and buffy eyebrow.
Identification
The nominate subspecies of tepui wren is 11.5 to 12 cm (4.5 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 13 to 18 g (0.46 to 0.63 oz). The adult's crown and upperparts are chestnut brown that is slightly redder on the lower back and rump. Its tail is dark reddish brown with thin blackish bars. It has a yellowish buff supercilium and a dark brown streak behind the eye. The throat and breast are yellowish buff; the sides, flanks, and lower belly are reddish brown; and the vent area is buffy brown with dark brown bars. The juvenile is darker with scaly underparts. T. r. fulvigularis is darker and less reddish than the nominate. T. r. yavii has white underparts. T. r. duidae has whitish underparts and the bars on its tail are more pronounced. T. r. wetmorei is the most similar to the nominate, differing only by having gray central underparts. T. r. marahuacae is similar to wetmorei but is smaller and the entire belly is gray.
Taxonomy
The tepui wren has often been treated a subspecies of mountain wren (Troglodytes solstitialis). The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC/AOS) considers those two, ochraceous wren (T. achraceus), rufous-browed wren (T. rufociliatus), and Santa Marta wren (T. monticola) to be a superspecies.<p>The tepui wren has six subspecies:
- Scientific name
- Troglodytes rufulus
- Authority
- Cabanis, 1849
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Genus
- Troglodytes
Range and habitat
The subspecies of tepui wren are distributed thus:<p>The tepui wren inhabits humid forest, forest edges, and bushland on isolated flat-topped mountains called tepuis. In elevation it ranges from 1,000 to 2,800 m (3,300 to 9,200 ft) but is mostly found in the narrower band between 1,600 and 2,400 m (5,200 and 7,900 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
White-striped Forest Rail
Rallicula leucospila
A medium-sized rail of mid-mountane forest on New Guinea’s Bird’s Head. Chestnut body, dark wings and back with white markings on. Very quick moving and difficult to see. Co-occurs with the similar Chestnut Forest Rail but the White-striped Forest Rail is slightly larger with barred rear flanks, the male has white streaks rather than a plain back, and female has a slightly bared tail and is spotted to the back of the neck. Voice, an incessant quacking.
Velvet-browed Brilliant
Heliodoxa xanthogonys
Large, dark hummingbird. Common in tepui highlands. Male is mostly shining green, especially on the throat, breast, and forehead; female is white below with extensive green spotting. Both sexes have conspicuous white spot behind eye. Occurs in a wide variety of habitats including tall forest, edge, and open scrub at middle and high elevations (above 800 m) in tepui region. Feeds on nectar and defends patches of flowers from other hummingbirds. Gives loud, sharp chip note while foraging. No other large, green hummingbird occurs in its limited range.
Orange-tufted Spiderhunter
Arachnothera flammifera
A fairly small bird of lowland and foothill forest understory and edge with a very long curved bill. Has a preference for banana plants. Olive-green above, whitish to pale gray from the throat to the upper belly, and yellow on the lower belly and under the base of the tail. Note the small orange tufts on the sides. Voice includes a repeated “sweet-sweet-sweet!” or dry “tyup!”
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