Iquitos Gnatcatcher
Polioptila clementsi
Rare bird known only from the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve in the lowlands of northeastern Peru. Like other gnatcatchers, it is mainly gray and white; tail is black with white outer feathers. Distinguished from female Tropical Gnatcatcher by gray breast and broken white eye-ring. Inhabits canopy of forests in areas with sandy soil. Typical song is three “sip” notes followed by a rapid trill.
Identification
All of the specimens of Iquitos gnatcatcher have been immature, so the adult plumage has not been formally described. However, observations of apparent adults showed no differences from that of the immatures. The immatures were 11 cm (4.3 in) long and weighed 5 to 6 g (0.18 to 0.21 oz). The male's entire upper side from crown to rump is dark gray. It has a narrow, broken, white eye ring. Its throat and breast are medium gray and the belly white. The innermost feathers of its tail are black and the outermost approximately 80% white, with those between intergrading.
Taxonomy
The Iquitos gnatcatcher is a member of the Guianan gnatcatcher (Polioptila guianensis) complex. It was accepted as a new species by the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC/AOS) in July 2006 and by other taxonomic bodies at about that time. However, BirdLife International (BLI) recognizes it only as a subspecies of Guianan gnatcatcher.<p>Its specific epithet was chosen to honor the American ornithologist James F. Clements.
- Scientific name
- Polioptila clementsi
- Authority
- Whitney & Álvarez A, J, 2005
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Polioptilidae
- Genus
- Polioptila
Range and habitat
The only known population of the Iquitos gnatcatcher is the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, west of Iquitos, Peru. The reserve is "on [the] border of ecoregions characterized as Napo moist forest and Iquitos várzea. The elevation there is 150 m (490 ft).
Behavior
The Iquitos gnatcatcher's diet is not well known, but is assumed to be insects like that of other Polioptila gnatcatchers. It actively forages in the upper quarter of trees with mixed-species flocks, usually gleaning from the ends of branches and sometimes sallying out to catch flying insects.<p>"The nest, eggs, and breeding behavior of Iquitos Gnatcatcher remain undescribed."<p>The Iquitos gnatcatcher's song is "a distinctly two-part series" [1]. It also has a variety of calls.
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Blackcap Babbler
Turdoides reinwardtii
A mostly brownish babbler with a black head and a white eye. The underparts are pale in the west and become increasingly darker in the eastern part of the range. Found in moist woodland, dense savanna, scrub, gallery forest, forest edge, cultivated areas, and gardens. Almost always in groups, which feed by hopping across the ground. Similar in behavior, shape, size, and overall brown coloration to Brown Babbler, but easily separated by the black head and the lack of a contrastingly paler rump. Calls include a raspy babbling, nasal calls, and a dry clucking, all usually given by a whole group in chorus.
Stripe-cheeked Woodpecker
Piculus callopterus
This scarce small woodpecker is golden-olive above and barred below. The male has a red crown, a red mustache stripe, and a yellow stripe below the eye. Females are similar but only have red on the nape. Occurs singly or in pairs, usually in the lower to middle levels of foothill forest and edge. Compare with Rufous-winged Woodpecker, which lacks the yellow stripe on the face.
Shore Plover
Thinornis novaeseelandiae
Very rare, small, stocky plover endemic to New Zealand. Shows an orange bill with black tip, orange eye-ring and legs, and distinctive white “halo” around head, below crown. Males have black mask on face, neck, and throat; mask is dark brown in females. Note broad white wingbar in flight. Juveniles lack face mask. Gives a soft “kleet” call, but territorial song is loud and ringing, similar to oystercatcher piping. Only found on a few predator-free islands around the New Zealand mainland and the Chatham Islands. Some birds have wandered to nearby mainland areas. Juveniles could be confused with juvenile Double-banded Plover (Banded Dotterel) but have much longer bills.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.