Rufous Cacholote
Pseudoseisura unirufa
Large cinnamon-colored ovenbird with piercing yellow eyes and a long gray crest. Found in gallery forest, near marshes and woodlands; often near human habitations. Mostly forages on the ground, but also in trees; builds a large stick nest. Song is a loud duet: an accelerating series ending with a rattle mixed with “chew” notes.
Identification
The grey-crested cacholote is 20 to 21 cm (7.9 to 8.3 in) long and weighs 42 to 57 g (1.5 to 2.0 oz). It is a large, crested, furnariid. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults are mostly bright reddish-rufous that is somewhat paler on their underparts. Their crest varies from entirely rufous to almost entirely grayish. The center of their throat has an orange tinge. Their flight feathers have fuscous tips and the ends of the tail feathers lack barbs. Their iris is yellow to buff-yellow, their bill blue-gray to gray with a paler mandible, and their legs and feet olive to greenish gray. Juveniles have a shorter crest than adults and less uniformity in their color. The formerly conspecific Caatinga cacholote is similar but larger and has no gray in its crown.
Taxonomy
The grey-crested cacholote is monotypic. It was previously considered a subspecies of the Caatinga cacholote (P. cristata) which was then called the rufous cacholote. The two taxa were split following the data in a paper published in 2000. Confusingly, and contrary to the suggestion of the 2000 paper's authors, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society, the Clements taxonomy, and some field guide authors call P. unirufa the rufous cacholote.
- Scientific name
- Pseudoseisura unirufa
- Authority
- (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1838)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Pseudoseisura
Range and habitat
The grey-crested cacholote has a disjunct distribution. One population is found in Beni Department and extreme northwestern Santa Cruz Department of north-central Bolivia. The other is found in southeastern Santa Cruz, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states in Brazil, and in northern Paraguay. The species inhabits gallery forest, woodlands, and seasonally flooded savanna within the Pantanal, and is often found near human dwellings. In elevation it ranges between 300 and 500 m (1,000 and 1,600 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The gray-crested cacholote is a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The grey-crested cacholote's diet and feeding behavior are poorly known. It probably feeds mostly on arthropods with some fruit and seeds. It usually forages in pairs and usually on the ground, where it gleans, probes, and digs for its prey.<p>The grey-crested cacholote is thought to be monogamous and to breed in the austral spring and summer. Its nest is a mass of sticks and branches that is typically twice as long as it is wide, with feathers, shells, bones, and other items incorporated, and placed in a tree about 4 or 5 m (10 or 20 ft) above the ground. An entrance tunnel near its bottom leads to an inner chamber lined with pieces of bark and snake skin. The clutch size, incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known.<p>The grey-crested cacholote usually sings in duet, "sustained, loud, accelerating, slightly descending 'chew' notes mixed with chattering and rattles, finishing with combined cackling". The species' call is "a single 'chuk' ".
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Undulated Antpitta
Grallaria squamigera
Large antpitta of the temperate zone in the Andes from Venezuela to Bolivia. Typical antpitta shape: plump with short tail and long legs. Size alone helps separate from most other antpittas, as does boldly scalloped underparts. Often occurs at higher elevations than other antpittas of similar size such as Giant and Great, but plenty of overlap; note Undulated’s slaty gray (not brown) back and dark mustache stripe. Like most antpittas, very difficult to see; occasionally hops along a forest trail, especially in the morning and evening. Listen for its fast, hollow-sounding triling song.
Tanimbar Cuckoo-Dove
Macropygia timorlaoensis
A large, long-tailed dove. Male is boldly patterned, with dark upperparts and pale underside, each extensively covered in dark barring. Female and juveniles of this little-known species reported to have fainter streaking below with rufous chest coloration. Found within forest, woodland, and plantations in the lowlands. Confined to Tanimbar Islands, where it is the only cuckoo-dove. Much larger and darker above than Barred Dove. Gives a repetitive two-note burry whistle, the first note upslurred and amplified, the second descending and mournful: “woooOOp-wooo.”
Indian Cuckoo
Cuculus micropterus
Sleek and slender gray-and-white cuckoo. Loud, far-carrying song is unique: four hooting notes, often likened to “onemore-boh-tul!” or “crossword-puh-zuhl.” Adult is similar in size and coloration to Oriental, Himalayan, and Common Cuckoos, but note dark eyes and darker back and wings. Juvenile patchy-looking, often showing a whitish crown and collar and white edging to the wing feathers. Favors forests, forest edges, and parklands. Lays its eggs in the nests of a wide range of birds, including magpies, shrikes, and drongos.
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