Varzea Schiffornis Schiffornis major Scientific name definitions

The Varzea Schiffornis is almost entirely cinnamon, but is paler below and on the rump, with a variable amount of gray on the face. The gray coloration, which does not seem to be correlated to age, sex, or subspecies, is usually restricted to the ocular region; however, it can also be present on the head sides and the crown, or even extend over the entire head and throat.

Though the Varzea Schiffornis is principally restricted to northern and western Amazonia, it reaches as far south as Bolivia, and is exclusively a lowland bird, being rarely found above 300 m. As its name suggests, the species favors densely wooded creeks and stream banks, including on river islands, and swampy, low-lying forest that is regularly (or seasonally) inundated. It is rarely found far from water, but it is sometimes also recorded in bamboo. Formerly known, rather inappropriately, as the Greater Manakin, the name Varzea Mourner much better reflects both its habitat preferences and its relationships. This species was formerly placed in the monotypic genus Massornis.

15–15·5 cm; 31 g. Nominate subspecies has gray area around eye, extent variable, sometimes reaching crown, occasionally lacking; head otherwise rufous, lores paler, back rufous, rump and tail bright cinnamon-rufous, wings dusky with broad rufous edgings; throat grayish-buff, underparts cinnamon-rufous, becoming paler cinnamon-buff on belly and vent; iris dark brownish; bill and legs dark gray to blackish. Sexes alike. Juvenile undescribed, apparently resembles adult.

Review of specimen material strongly suggests that characters supposedly defining subspecies duidae occur equally in nominate (1 Kirwan, G. M., and G. Green (2011). Cotingas and Manakins. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). Two subspecies currently recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Not well known; apparently similar to that of Brown-winged Schiffornis (Schiffornis turdina).

Vocal Development

No information

Vocal Array

Short song. A short phrase of 2 (or 3) loud slurred whistles, which is repeated at irregular intervals. There are seemingly 3 main versions of the song phrase: a downslurred whistle followed by a steeply upslurred whistle tew-weet! (A: ), a similar phrase which has an additional short note at the end tew-weet!-it (B), and a downslurred whistle followed by an underslurred whistle tew-teweet! (C: ). Song phrase may be repeated several times with intervals of several seconds, or with shorter intervals of 1s or less when birds are excited. Whistles are mostly between 2 and 4kHz. Duration of the phrase is quite variable, ranging from 0.5s to 1.4s depending on length of whistles and pause between them. This is the commonest vocalization.

Long song. A combined phrase consisting of 2 or 3 short phrases as in Short song. Such longer phrases are then identically repeated several times at intervals. Long phrases often include the 3-note phrase tew-weet!-it (B) described above, while this phrase is seldom heard separately. Based on available sound-recordings the commonest combination by far is (B)(C).

Rattle. A downslurred whistle followed by a dry rattle of variable duration.

Other. Rarely a single whistle is repeated, either an incomplete Short song phrase or a seldom-used call.

Geographic Variation

Has not been studied in detail, but vocal uniformity (unlike the Thrushlike Schiffornis complex) has been noted since long (2 Ridgely, R. S., and G. Tudor (1994). The Birds of South America, Volume 2: The Suboscine Passerines. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, USA Close ). Available sound recordings indicate that the 3 versions of Short song and resulting Long songs all form part of a repertoire that is used by birds throughout the entire range. Geographic variation for each specific phrase type has not been analyzed yet.

Phenology

Little information. Sound recordings are available for all months of the year, but there may be regional differences.

Daily Pattern of Vocalizing

Mainly vocal during the morning and in late afternoon, but can be heard occasionally throughout the day. In Venezuela, said to be mainly vocal at dawn and dusk (3 Hilty, S. L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, USA. Close ), possibly referring to Long song (?).

Places of Vocalizing

Short and Long song are uttered while perched on a branch or twig at low to mid level in the understory of varzea forest , usually quite well hidden. Rattle is often given in flight by an excited bird, but presumably also when perched.

Sex Differences

No information.

Social Context and Presumed Functions of Vocalizations

Little information. Functional difference between Long and Short song unclear, but after playback birds typically respond with Short song. Rattle is usually uttered by excited birds, possibly in territorial disputes.

None documented.