Rufous Gnateater

Overview

The rufous gnateater (Conopophaga lineata) is a small passerine bird belonging to the gnateater family, Conopophagidae. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Small, rounded bird approximately 13 cm long with a short tail and fairly long legs.
• Mostly reddish brown plumage with a white stripe above the eye (grey in females) that ends in a hideable tuft of feathers.
• Call consists of a series of quiet cheeps that become faster and higher-pitched.
• Males produce a buzzing sound with their wing feathers while flying around their territory at dusk and dawn.

Habitat

This species inhabits forest understory and bushes in eastern Brazil, ranging from Rio Grande do Sul north to central Brazil. Its distribution also extends into eastern Paraguay, north-eastern Argentina, and has recently been recorded in Uruguay.

Diet

The bird forages by moving quickly from one perch to another through undergrowth close to the ground. When it spots an insect, it makes a short flight down to the ground or to overhead leaves to catch its prey.

Did you know?

At dusk and dawn, males create a buzzing sound by vibrating their wing feathers while patrolling their territory. The white stripe above the eye terminates in a tuft of feathers that the bird can actively hide.