White-shouldered Fire-eye Pyriglena leucoptera Scientific name definitions

The fire-eyes form a superspecies, of which the White-shouldered Fire-eye is the southeastern representative of the genus. It is virtually confined to eastern Brazil, where the species ranges as far north as eastern Bahia, but also penetrates northeasternmost Argentina, in the province of Misiones. Within the species’ range, the White-shouldered Fire-eye is a highly distinctive and relatively common member of the avifauna. Pairs or family groups forage together, low above the ground, searching for insects, and sometimes joining mixed-species flocks within the dense undergrowth of forest and second growth. Males are largely black with bold white wing markings and a mid-sized interscapular patch (often visible when the bird is singing), and a staring red eye, whilst females are virtually entirely warm brown but paler below, with a blackish tail, and also has red irides.

16–18 cm; 25–34 g (female appears to weigh less). Male is glossy black; interscapular patch white, lesser wing-coverts white, median and greater coverts tipped white; underwing-coverts blackish-grey; iris bright red. Female has crown, upperparts and wings yellowish-brown, no interscapular patch, tail brownish-black, lores black, side of head grey, tinged olive, chin and centre of throat white, breast light yellowish olive-brown, central belly whiter, flanks, crissum and underwing-coverts dark olive-brown with greyish tinge.

E Brazil (E Bahia and SW Minas Gerais S to S Mato Grosso do Sul and extreme N Rio Grande do Sul), E Paraguay (Canindeyú S to Itapúa) and extreme NE Argentina (Misiones).

Understorey of evergreen-forest edge, forest light-gaps and mature second-growth woodland, also selectively logged forest and plantations; from lowlands to 1250 m, occasionally higher. Often in areas with extensive bamboo, but not confined to this. Frequents dense vine tangles and thickets at forest edge and in light-gaps within forest, such as borders of treefalls and landslides, or large stands of bamboo; as congeners, avoids open areas of forest interior.

Presumed resident.

Feeds on variety of insects, including orthopterans (Gryllidae, Tettigoniidae, Acrididae), cockroaches (Blattoidea), beetles (Bostrichidae, Curculionidae), and ants (Formicidae); also spiders, and reported to take geckos. Closely associated pair-members, individuals, or family groups forage mostly 0–3 m above ground, but occasionally to 10 m; alone, or sometimes briefly joining mixed-species flocks of other insectivores. Forages mostly near ground in shaded, tangled thickets of vines, second growth and bamboo with abundant horizontal and inclined perches, but regularly climbs through hanging vine tangles to forage much higher. Regularly follows army-ant swarms in order to capture fleeing arthropod prey; multiple pairs or family groups may congregate at swarms, where behaviour similar to that of congeners: posture c. 20 degrees above horizontal, tail usually held level with body and regularly pounded downwards in c. 30-degree arc, then slowly raised, before being pounded down again; clings laterally to slender vertical stems, lower leg extended and upper one flexed, but more often on horizontal or inclined perches near ground; commonest attack manoeuvre a quick pounce from low perch to ground to seize fleeing prey, then quick jump back up to another low perch, sometimes stays on ground for several seconds and tosses leaves to uncover concealed prey in litter; prey taken from above-ground stems, vines, branches or leaves usually gleaned, by reaching up, out or down, or by short jump-gleans, more rarely by sallies to foliage or branches. Encountered more frequently away from ants than are its congeners, probably reflecting generally lower density of army-ant swarms in habitats in which it is found; away from ants, perch-gleans most prey from leaf, vine and branch surfaces, by reaching up, out or down with quick stabs of the bill or by short horizontal lunges, also sometimes makes short fluttering sallies and shorter jump-gleans to live foliage; commonly drops to ground to take prey from leaf litter.

Male loudsong a regular, medium-length series (e.g. 8 notes, 2 seconds), notes longer than intervals, evenly pitched or dropping slightly, first note often shorter or less intense; female similar but pitch descending more. Calls include low-pitched “chup”, higher and longer “cheep”, and musical bubbling rattle typically diminishing in pitch and intensity.

Season Sept–Dec. Carefully documented nest found in Misiones (Argentina) was a sphere of leaves, petioles and rolled sheaths of bamboo, diameter 26 cm, entrance hole 7–8 cm across and 30 degrees from vertical, cavity depth 12·5 cm, placed on ground on top of old nest of leaves in dense bamboo (Merostachys clausenii) under 70% tree cover; nests in Brazil were similar but constructed from other plant materials present in vicinity, including at one location stems and leaves of an arrowroot (Marantaceae), and resting on base of low tree, or on tree stump, or between bracken-ferns (Pteridium); apparent tendency or requirement that nest be raised slightly off top of soil. Normal clutch 2 eggs, white or creamy white, marked all over (often more densely at broad end) with reddish blotches and with fine spots and twisted lines of deep brownish-purple, red-brown, lilac-red and dark lilac-grey; incubation by both parents during day, probably only by female at night.

Not globally threatened. Fairly common throughout most of its range. Range encompasses numerous protected areas, e.g. Itatiaia, Iguaçu, Tijuca, Serra dos Órgãos and Serra da Bocaína National Parks, Sooretama and Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserves and Serra do Mar State Park, in Brazil , and Iguazú National Park, in Argentina. May be incapable of persisting in forest fragments of less than 300 ha, and some populations may be endangered at local level as a result of rapid clearance of forest for agriculture. On other hand, survives well in selectively logged forest, and appears to colonize eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) plantations readily, especially if these contain an understorey of native plants.