Sulphur-bearded Reedhaunter

Overview

The sulphur-bearded reedhaunter (Limnoctites sulphuriferus) is a small passerine bird in the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is a year-round resident found in parts of southern South America.

Identification

• Adults measure 15 to 16 cm in length and have olive-brown upperparts with rufous wing coverts.
• A distinctive buffish white supercilium contrasts with a grayish-streaked whitish face and a yellow chin and throat centre.
• The bill features a blackish brown upper mandible and a pinkish white lower mandible, while the legs are greenish gray to pale olive-green.
• The song consists of a slightly rising trill lasting 2.5 to 3.5 seconds, followed by rapid, fading harsh notes such as 'dirip, drip-drip-dreeuw', often performed in duet by pairs.

Habitat

Found in far southern Brazil, Uruguay, and eastern Argentina, the species inhabits freshwater marshes with tall grasses or reeds and adjacent scrublands. Its elevation range extends from near sea level to 300 m.

Diet

The diet is not fully known but is probably composed mostly of arthropods. Foraging is typically conducted singly or in pairs, with no further details available regarding specific prey items or feeding behaviour.

Did you know?

The nest is constructed as an oval ball of reed fragments and plant fibers lined with grasses and feathers, attached directly to reed stems usually not far above the water.