Rufous-naped Greenlet

Overview

The rufous-naped greenlet (Pachysylvia semibrunnea) is a species of bird in the family Vireonidae, commonly known as the vireos, greenlets, and shrike-babblers. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though it has a restricted range and a stable but unknown population size.

Identification

• A small bird measuring 12 to 13 cm in length and weighing between 10 to 12.5 g.
• Features a rich rufous crown, nape, and ear coverts, contrasting with olive-green upperparts and a dusky green tail.
• Has a pink bill, leaden blue legs, and a dark iris, with a whitish throat and yellowish-white breast marked by a rufous-tinged band.
• Its song is described as a "repeated, fast cheedodoweédidideét", accompanied by a descending series of 3-5 loud, harsh, scolding notes.

Habitat

Found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, this species inhabits the interior and edges of primary and secondary forests in upper foothill and lower subtropical zones, as well as shade coffee plantations. Its elevation range varies by country, from 450 to 2,800 m, and it is believed to be a year-round resident.

Diet

The diet includes insects, and the bird feeds actively from the forest's mid-story to its crown, often hanging upside-down to glean prey from leaves. It usually forages singly, in pairs, or in small family groups, and frequently joins mixed-species feeding flocks, including army ant swarms.

Did you know?

The rufous-naped greenlet was originally described in 1845 under the name Hylophilus semi-brunneus and was later treated as a subspecies of the golden-fronted greenlet in the early twentieth century before being recognised as a distinct species.