Klages's Gnatcatcher
Polioptila paraensis
Small, rather long-tailed bird found high in the rainforest canopy; it only occurs south of the Amazon River. Plumage is mostly plain gray, but is slightly darker on the back and paler on the belly. It has a thin, broken eyering and white outer tail feathers. Similar to female Tropical Gnatcatcher, but area below the eye is gray, not white. Quite scarce and very easy to overlook due to its small size and the difficulty of seeing into the canopy from the forest floor. Typical song is a quick series of six to ten high pitched “sip” notes; these bursts are usually repeated multiple times with a short pause in between. Formerly included with several other similar species under the name of Guianan Gnatcatcher.
Identification
The Para gnatcatcher is 10 to 11 cm (3.9 to 4.3 in) long and weighs approximately 6 g (0.21 oz). The male's head, back, and breast are mouse gray and the rest of its underparts white. There is minimal contrast between the throat, breast, and belly. The innermost feathers of its tail are black and the outermost white, with those between intergrading. The female is similar but has a paler face.
Taxonomy
The Para gnatcatcher is monotypic It was formerly treated as a subspecies of the Guianan gnatcatcher (Polioptila guianensis) but since mid-2019 has been considered a separate species based on differences in morphology and vocalization.
- Scientific name
- Polioptila paraensis
- Authority
- Todd, 1937
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Polioptilidae
- Genus
- Polioptila
Range and habitat
The Para gnatcatcher is found only in Brazil, in a broad band south of the Amazon River from its mouth southwest almost to northern Bolivia. It inhabits the borders and canopy of humid primary forest, mostly below 500 m (1,600 ft) elevation.
Behavior
The Para gnatcatcher's diet is little known but is assumed to be arthropods like that of other Polioptila gnatcatchers. It actively forages in the canopy and sub-canopy.<p>The Para gnatcatcher's breeding phenology has not been documented.<p>The Para gnatcatcher's song is "repeated high...notes, evenly delivered" [1].
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Copsychus cebuensis
A medium-sized, long-tailed bird of lowland forest, bamboo, and scrub on Cebu, where it has a preference for valley bottoms. Male is entirely black with a glossy sheen, where the female is sooty gray with a rusty belly. Catches insects on the ground, in the undergrowth, or even on the wing. There are no other species of similar shape and size on Cebu. Song is a series of long, slightly out of tune, often quavering whistles.
Square-tailed Kite
Lophoictinia isura
Uncommon, inconspicuous raptor with a fairly small bill. Adult has a pale head and reddish underparts with black streaks on neck. Juvenile has a more reddish head with less streaking. In flight, tail has obvious square corners with a dark band at the base. Sails over forest woodland habitats just above the tree canopy, typically with little wing movement. Occurs singly or in pairs. At a distance, and particularly when heavily worn, take care to identify juvenile birds from Black Kite, which has more uniformly patterned plumage.
Stripe-breasted Wren
Cantorchilus thoracicus
Medium-sized wren, brown above with bold black-and-white streaking on face and breast. Distinctive in range. Fond of viney tangles at middle heights, but can be difficult to see through vegetation. Variable song always includes sweet repeated whistles, sometimes very simple but can be more complex, similar to other wrens.
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