Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner

Overview

The rufous-tailed foliage-gleaner (Anabacerthia ruficaudata) is a medium-sized bird in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN but is believed to have a decreasing population despite its large range.

Identification

• 16 to 17 cm in length with a wedge-shaped bill and rufous tail.
• Olive-brownish upperparts with rufous-tipped uppertail coverts, and dull buff-yellow underparts.
• Dark olive crown with faint paler spots, and a buff-yellow malar area.
• Song described as a loud, staccato series of up to 25 'te' or 'ke' notes that descends and accelerates.

Habitat

This species inhabits tropical lowland evergreen and seasonally flooded forests, primarily in terra firme but also locally in tall várzea forest. Its range covers Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, with possible presence in French Guiana. It mostly occurs below 850 m but reaches higher elevations in Brazil and Venezuela.

Diet

The rufous-tailed foliage-gleaner feeds on various arthropods, including Orthoptera, Coleoptera, Heteroptera, and spiders. It forages singly or in pairs, usually as part of mixed-species flocks, from the forest's mid-storey to the canopy. It gleans prey from dead leaves, live foliage, epiphytes, vines, and moss.

Did you know?

Nothing is currently known about the breeding biology of the rufous-tailed foliage-gleaner.