Uniform Treehunter

Overview

The uniform treehunter (Thripadectes ignobilis) is a species of bird in the ovenbird family Furnariidae found on the Pacific slope of the Andes in Colombia and Ecuador. It is the smallest, darkest, and shortest-billed member of its genus and is currently assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Measures 19 to 20 cm in length and weighs between 48 and 51 g, making it the smallest member of its genus.
• Exhibits a dark brown crown with vague pale spots on the forehead and rich dark reddish brown wings and tail.
• Features a dull tawny-rufous supercilium and eyering, with blackish ear coverts streaked with narrow ochraceous-buff lines.
• Singing voice is a high-pitched series of 6 to 8 sharp 'kik' or 'kyip' notes.

Habitat

It inhabits montane evergreen and secondary forests in the subtropical and foothill zones on the Pacific slope of the Andes. Its range extends from Chocó Department in Colombia south to El Oro Province in Ecuador, typically between 500 and 2,500 m in elevation.

Diet

This bird feeds on arthropods, foraging mostly in dense undergrowth but also in the mid-story and above. It forages along branches to glean prey from surfaces, debris, and dead leaves, often participating in mixed-species feeding flocks.

Did you know?

Despite a limited understanding of its breeding biology, the uniform treehunter constructs its nest inside a tunnel in an earthen bank.