Wren-like Rushbird

Phleocryptes melanops

Photo © by Momo
Laguna Huarcapay, near Cusco, Peru, March 2006

Identification

13.5–14.5 cm

• Dark brown crown
• Buffy supercilium
• Brown back with whitish streaks
• Brown tail
• Brown wings with rufous patches
• Buff-edged white throat and belly
  

Sexes similar

Distribution

South America: found in Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina.

Taxonomy

Subspecies^[1]

There are four subspecies:

• P. m. brunnescens in coastal Peru
• P. m. schoenobaenus in the highlands of Peru, Bolivia and NW Argentina
• P. m. loaensis in N Chile
• P. m. melanops from S Brazil to C Chile, C Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay

An additional subspecies P.M. juninensis is not recognised by all authorities^[1].

Habitat

Reedbeds, marshes, swamps, in both fresh and brackish water.

Behaviour

A quick, small shy bird.

Diet

The diet includes insects and other small invertebrates.

Breeding

A spherical nest is built and attached to reeds, with a side entrance near the top. Both adults incubate the eggs and rear the young.

References

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.
2. Avibase
3. Ansers.com
4. BF Member observations

• List of references

Recommended Citation

• BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Wren-like Rushbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 26 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Wren-like_Rushbird

External Links

Search for photos of Wren-like Rushbird in the gallery