Striated Softtail
Thripophaga macroura
Distinctive-looking rufous bird, heavily streaked with a bright cinnamon tail. Note the orange chin patch. Found in humid forest with dense vine tangles, where it forages by gleaning from the understory to the subcanopy and often accompanies mixed-species flocks. The song is two clear notes flowed by a rattle. The superficially similar but larger Pale-browed Treehunter lacks the orange chin and has a more robust bill.
Identification
The striated softtail is 17 to 18 cm (6.7 to 7.1 in) long. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a buff supercilium and pale lores on a otherwise buff-streaked brown face. Their crown, back, rump, and uppertail coverts are dark reddish brown streaked with black-edged reddish-rufous to rufous-buff. Their tail is pale tawny to cinnamon-rufous. Their wings are mostly dark rufous with dusky tips on the flight feathers. Their chin and upper throat are orange-rufous to yellowish orange. The rest of their underparts are dull brown with buff streaks that fade on the belly and undertail coverts. Their iris is deep chestnut brown, their maxilla dusky horn to silvery gray, their mandible bluish gray with a dusky horn tip, and their legs and feet dull greenish gray. Juveniles have a dull brown chin and throat, less well-defined streaks on the back than adults, and mottled rather than streaked underparts.
Taxonomy
The striated softtail is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Thripophaga macroura
- Authority
- (Wied-Neuwied, M, 1821)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Genus
- Thripophaga
Range and habitat
The striated softtail is found in coastal southeastern Brazil from southern Bahia state south into northern Rio de Janeiro state. It inhabits tropical lowland evergreen forest, especially areas with dense vine tangles. In elevation it ranges from near sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The striated softtail is a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The striated softtail feeds on arthropods. It forages singly, in pairs, and in small groups that might be families, and usually as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. It forages from the forest's understorey to the subcanopy, gleaning its prey mostly in vine tangles but also along branches and in foliage.<p>The striated softtail's breeding season has not been defined but active nests have been found between September and January. The nest is a ball of grass, moss, twigs, and rootlets with a vertical entrance tube at the bottom. It is typically placed (or woven onto) a branch fork about 10 to 25 m (33 to 82 ft) above the ground. The clutch size is three eggs. The incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known.<p>The striated softtail's song is an "unstructured mixture of short rattles, 'tjew-tjew-tjew' notes, and sparrowlike chatters" that is often sung in duet. Its call is a loud "kit-kit-kit".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Gray-crowned Tetraka
Xanthomixis cinereiceps
Attractive, medium-sized tetraka. Green back, gray head, white throat, and yellowish underparts. Madagascar endemic that is found in eastern rainforest at middle and high elevations. Inhabits the mid-story, most often feeding by creeping along mossy branches like a woodpecker. Frequently joins flocks with tetrakas and other species. Call is a series of high, silvery, sputtered “sit” notes. Separated from Spectacled Tetraka by its smaller size, brighter underparts, gray head, and tree-creeping habits.
Yellow-streaked Lory
Chalcopsitta scintillata
A rather large lory of lowland forest and semi-open areas. Mainly green plumage, medium-length, rounded tail with red undertail, thighs and forehead. In flight, southwestern birds show a distinctive red front part of the underwing. Pairs often seen in flight. Similar to Black Lory which has slight overlap but Yellow-streaked, shows green plumage and streaks. Dusky Lory is smaller with smaller head, red bill and yellow patches in the wing. Call, a sharp, loud “chikeek!”.
Chestnut-collared Swallow
Petrochelidon rufocollaris
Handsome swallow restricted to relatively dry regions of western Ecuador and western Peru. Plumage is blue and white with chestnut collar, breast band, sides, rump, and forehead. Similar to Cliff Swallow, which is a rare migrant within the range of Chestnut-collared, but note the chestnut breast band and lack of white on the forehead. Most often encountered around cities and towns, where it nests colonially in the eaves of buildings.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.