Chestnut-crowned Gnateater Conopophaga castaneiceps Scientific name definitions
Text last updated December 2, 2012
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Species names in all available languages
Language | Common name |
---|---|
Catalan | benedictí de capell castany |
Dutch | Roodkruinmuggeneter |
English | Chestnut-crowned Gnateater |
English (United States) | Chestnut-crowned Gnateater |
French | Conopophage à couronne rousse |
French (France) | Conopophage à couronne rousse |
German | Roststirn-Mückenfresser |
Japanese | クリボウシアリサザイ |
Norwegian | andesmyggeter |
Polish | mrówkożer rudoczelny |
Russian | Красношапочный гусеницеед |
Serbian | Mušičarka kestenjaste glave |
Slovak | komárožrút ryšavý |
Spanish | Jejenero Coronicastaño |
Spanish (Ecuador) | Jejenero Coronicastaño |
Spanish (Peru) | Jejenero de Corona Castaña |
Spanish (Spain) | Jejenero coronicastaño |
Swedish | rostpannad knottfågel |
Turkish | Kestane Taçlı Bityiyen |
Ukrainian | Гусеницеїд рудолобий |
Conopophaga castaneiceps Sclater, 1857
Definitions
- CONOPOPHAGA
- castaneiceps
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Introduction
Two species of Conopophaga are found in the Andes, with this species occupying the northern part of the chain, in Colombia in all three ranges, thence south over the east slope to central Peru, and ranging from about 500 to 2200 m, although the Chestnut-crowned Gnateater is largely confined to elevations above 1000 m. Four subspecies are generally recognized, and a fifth might remain to be described from central Colombia. In general males are very dark below, with a neat rufous forehead, long white ear-tufts, and very dark upperparts, whereas females are also brown above, but have shorter white-tipped ear-tufts, and a largely deep rufous head and underparts, grading paler posteriorly. Despite being rather widespread, the species is not common and is not easily detected without knowledge of its vocalizations, and this gnateater is only regularly heard singing pre-dawn and close to dusk.
Field Identification
13–14 cm; mean of seven specimens 27·6 g. Male has top of head orange-rufous, crown and nape tinged browner, prominent white postocular tuft ; upperparts brown, wing-coverts tipped orange-buff; face and underparts dark grey, flanks and lower region tinged orange-brown; iris dark brown; bill black with yellowish lower mandible; legs blue-grey. Female has head and chest orange-rufous, postocular plume reduced, whitish throat and belly. Juvenile apparently undescribed. Race chapmani differs from nominate in brighter, less brown-tinged crown; brunneinucha is darker overall, orange-rufous restricted to forehead, white belly patch; chocoensis like brunneinucha but smaller, with back more olivaceous, less grey, chestnut of crown more extensive.
Systematics History
Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.
Apparently closely allied to C. peruviana and C. ardesiaca, and part of the group centred on C. lineata. Meets C. ardesiaca saturata in SE Cuzco, which probably marks S limit of range. Birds from W slope of C Andes of Colombia may belong to an unnamed taxon, but no details available. Four subspecies recognized.Subspecies
Conopophaga castaneiceps chocoensis Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Conopophaga castaneiceps chocoensis Chapman, 1915
Definitions
- CONOPOPHAGA
- castaneiceps
- chocoana / chocoanus / chocoensis
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Conopophaga castaneiceps castaneiceps Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Conopophaga castaneiceps castaneiceps Sclater, 1857
Definitions
- CONOPOPHAGA
- castaneiceps
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Conopophaga castaneiceps chapmani Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Conopophaga castaneiceps chapmani Carriker, 1933
Definitions
- CONOPOPHAGA
- castaneiceps
- chapmani
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Conopophaga castaneiceps brunneinucha Scientific name definitions
Distribution
Conopophaga castaneiceps brunneinucha Berlepsch & Sztolcman, 1896
Definitions
- CONOPOPHAGA
- castaneiceps
- brunneinucha / brunneinuchus
The Key to Scientific Names
Legend Overview
Distribution
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.
Habitat
Upper tropical and lower subtropical rainforest. Inhabits interior of tall, mossy forest, but favours openings such as treefalls and regrowing landslides; fairly frequently encountered in open, dimly lit understorey. Mostly at 1000–2000 m, but in Colombia recorded down to 700 m in Valle and 500 m in W Meta, and to 600 m in S Ecuador; recently reported at c. 2200 m in S Peru (Cuzco-Manu road). Occurs together with C. peruviana at one site in S Ecuador (Tayuntza, at 600 m). In S Peru overlaps very slightly with C. ardesiaca in SE Cuzco (on Cuzco-Manu road), where the two taxa co-exist in structurally different habitats.
Movement
Sedentary.
Diet and Foraging
Arthropods. Prey taken from foliage and leaf litter on or near the ground, using short reaches and gleaning.
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Song a series of frog-like, slightly disyllabic notes at 3–4 kHz, pace accelerating and amplitude increasing after first 1–2 notes, the whole lasting 3–6 seconds, with longer series returning to more widely spaced and slightly quieter notes at end, much like song of C. ardesiaca but slightly higher frequency; calls include harsh “zhiek!” and lower “schek”. In aggression or courtship, male occasionally produces fairly loud whirring sound with outer remiges while in low flight.
Breeding
In Colombia, nest found in Feb in Valle (upper Anchicayá Valley) and birds in breeding condition in Mar–Jun in C Andes. Nest was a concealed bulky cup 0·8 m up in forest. Territories in N Ecuador may be less than 200 m wide. No other information.
Conservation Status
Not globally threatened. Fairly common to uncommon and local, easily overlooked. In N Ecuador, density estimated at 1 pair/ha at appropriate elevations on Mt Sumaco (Napo). In Peru, uncommon in Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve, in Cuzco. Probably benefits from natural or man-made openings in forest, allowing denser growth of vegetation.