Rufous Antpitta

The monochrome Ameisenpitta ( Grallaria rufula ) is a species of bird in the family of Ameisenpittas ( Formicariidae ). The species has a large distribution area, which includes the South American countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. The stock is assessed by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern )

Features

The monochrome Ameisenpitta reaches a body length of about 14 centimeters and a weight of about 38 grams. Its top is reddish brown to chestnut -colored. The underside is slightly lighter and is yellowish brown in the middle and on the belly. To the eye runs a bright ring.

Distribution and habitat

The bird is found in the bushes and on the ground moist, moss -grown mountain forests. Here we see him in dense bamboo. You can often spot him near watercourses. The nominate is in the southwest of Venezuela to the east and west of the state of Táchira, the Eastern and Central Andes of Colombia to Ecuador in the extreme northern Peru present in the northern part of the western Andes. The subspecies spatiator is only in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia available. In the mountains of the Sierra de Perijá on the border between Venezuela and Colombia to find the spp. saltuensis. As you can already guess from the name of cajamarcae subspecies, their distribution area in the south of Peru's Cajamarca region. The subspecies obscura is located in the Central Andes of Peru to the south of the Junín Region. In southeastern Peru, in the southeastern part of the Cuzco Region, to the West of the La Paz Department in Bolivia is the ssp. occabambae home. Finally, one finds in the northern part of the department of Cochabamba the subspecies cochabambae.

Behavior

The birds jump like other Ameisenpittas around on the floor and looking for food. Especially with disorders retire on branches and in bushes at altitudes up to about 2 meters above the ground. They are available individually or in pairs to observe. In particular, immediately before dawn they seek to also open terrain. The cup-shaped nests are made of grass, which they build in cavities in about 75 inches of height. They usually only put a turquoise egg.

Subspecies

There are seven subspecies have been described which differ mainly in their coloring:

• Grallaria rufula rufula Lafresnaye, 1843. Nominate
• Grallaria rufula spatiator Bangs, 1898. Bangs described this subspecies initially as a separate species Grallaria spatiator. She has a much shorter beak, it feingliederige feet than the nominate form. To this end, it is a bit darker with a duller brown. The chin is white. The flanks are umbrafarben, the belly dirty white.
• But Grallaria rufula saltuensis Wetmore, 1946. Similar to the subspecies spatiator is, rather than olivaceous brown on the top. Is slightly lighter on the throat and abdomen. The sides and tail-coverts are also slightly lighter. Due to the significantly different coloring this might not also be, according to some authors to be a separate species.
• Grallaria rufula cajamarcae Chapman, 1927. Generally somewhat brighter than obscura. The top rather ocher to tan and less cinnamon.
• Grallaria rufula obscura Berlepsch & proud man, 1896. Olive color The color of the upper body more and less reddish than the nominate. This difference is most noticeable on the forehead and sides of the head. The wings and tail are slightly longer.
• Grallaria rufula occabambae Chapman, 1923 has been. Described by Chapman under the name Oropezus cajamarcae. The closest subspecies obscura, but on the underside paler. On the top brown and less cinnamon.
• Grallaria rufula cochabambae Bond & Meyer de Schauensee, 1940. The top is dull olive color, while the underside is tan.