- Ocreatus peruanus
Identification
Male
- Iridescent green above with golden flashes
- Green underparts
- White post-ocular spot
- Long tail streamers ending in blackish-green spoon shaped rackets
- Short, straight bill
- Dark iris
- Tawny puffed up feathers surrounding the legs
Female
- Similar to male but with
- White underparts, flecked with green
- Tail shorter than male, lacks rackets, but deep fork with white tips to outer rectrices
- White post-ocular spot and a narrow white stripe in the malar region
- Puffs around legs are smaller than in male
Distribution
South America: found in southeastern Andes of Colombia (western Putumayo, south of the upper Caquetá River), eastern Ecuador, and eastern Peru south to Huánuco (Huallaga Valley).
Taxonomy
One of three species formerly combined as Booted Racket-tail.
This is a monotypic species[1].
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized[1].
Habitat
Subtropical to temperate forest, more likely at edges, ravines, roads, etc than at deep forest interior. May use second growth to rainforest, cloud forest, elfin forest, and coffee plantations. Most common between 1000 to 2400 m asl.
Behaviour
Males seems to be territorial, especially contra other males of same species.
Diet
Includes nectar and insects. Most frequently feeding in mid story to canopy, but lower at forest edge and gardens. Readily visits garden feeders.
Vocalisation
Sounds include both calls and mechanical sounds (wing hum).
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2) DRAFT. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
- Birdforum Member observations
- Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156
- Erize et al. 2006 Birds of South America, non-passerines. Princeton Illustrated Checklists, Princeton, New Jersey, USA. ISBN 0-691-12688-7
- García, N. C., K.L. Schuchmann, and P. F. D. Boesman (2022). Peruvian Racket-tail (Ocreatus peruanus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (B. K. Keeney, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.boorat2.01
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Peruvian Racket-tail. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 25 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Peruvian_Racket-tail
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
