Caatinga Cacholote Pseudoseisura cristata Scientific name definitions

Recently split from the more southerly distributed Gray-crested Cacholote (Pseudoseisura unirufa), the two species differing in ecology, plumage, vocalizations, and perhaps even social systems and nest architecture, the Caatinga Cacholote is thus a Brazilian endemic. This bright rufous bird with its heavy bill, reasonably long tail, and yellow irides should prove unmistakable, and usually unmissable within its range, given the species’ loud calls and relative abundance. It is distributed widely across the northeast Brazilian interior, where it has a special liking for more degraded areas of caatinga, and often builds its large, stick nests close to human habitation; these are sometimes attended by up to three or four adults. The Caatinga Cacholote is mainly terrestrial when foraging, but nests are constructed in trees or on telephone poles.

26 cm. Large, crested furnariid. Plumage is rather uniform bright reddish-rufous, paler and brighter below; crest feathers tipped and edged greyish, remiges tipped fuscous; tail nearly square, distal 2–3 mm of shafts lacking barbs; iris yellow; colours of bill and legs undocumented. Differs from extremely similar P. unirufa in paler plumage coloration, significantly longer bill (no overlap in measurements). Sexes alike. Juvenile has shorter crest, is less uniform in colour, with variable amounts of dusky streaking or barring on face and underparts, also bluish-grey iris.

E Brazil (E Maranhão, Ceará, Paraíba and Pernambuco S to C Minas Gerais).

Tropical deciduous forest; caatinga woodland and scrub, especially where overgrazed; common around human habitations in rural areas. At 50–500 m.

Resident.

Recorded dietary items are Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and vegetable matter. Usually in pairs. Mostly terrestrial; evidently gleans, probes and digs for arthropods primarily on ground.

Song usually given as duet that lasts c. 7 seconds, presumed male 4–10 evenly spaced notes followed by accelerating series that becomes a rattle, with overall descending, bouncing-ball pattern (slightly higher-pitched than that of P. unirufa), presumed female a series of 15–35 well-spaced buzzy “zjeep” notes (slower and more strident than that of P. unirufa); presumed male also gives chatter that lasts c. 2 seconds, often between duet bouts. Call a single “chuk”.

Season not documented. Probably mainly monogamous, but some breeding units seem to contain 3–4 individuals in adult plumage, all of which feed nestlings. Locality data in some nest descriptions vague, and uncertain whether some of following detail applies to this species alone or also to P. unirufa: nest a large elongated mass 90–100 cm long, 50 cm wide, of usually thorny sticks, some as large as 60 cm long and 1 cm in diameter, with large feathers, bone fragments and snail shells often incorporated, tunnel leading from entrance hole near upper end to spherical inner chamber c. 20 cm in diameter, lined with pieces of bark and snake skin; placed in fork of tree or on telephone pole. Clutch size not documented; single juveniles, presumably from previous brood, may remain with adults during subsequent nesting and may help with nest-building.

Not globally threatened. Common, especially where caatinga severely degraded or overgrazed. Density often rather high; pairs typically separated from nearest neighbour by c. 300–400 m. Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Cavernas do Peruaçu National Park. Has extended its range locally where forest has been cleared.