Slaty Bristlefront - BirdForum Opus

Photo by arthurgrosset
Location: Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil.

Merulaxis ater

Identification

The male is slaty grey with dark brown back, rump and flanks. The female is brown above and cinnamon-rufous below. It has long bristles in front of its eyes.

Distribution

South-eastern Brazil.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species¹.

Habitat

Atlantic Rain Forest and in mature secondary woodland.

Behaviour

Lifts up dead leaves on the ground; it is thought that the long frontal bristles help in keeping dirt out of the eyes so it can see its prey.¹

Reference

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.

Arthur Grosset on his web site here.

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