Andean negrito facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andean negrito |
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| Male | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lessonia
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| Species: |
oreas
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| Synonyms | |
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Centrites oreas |
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The Andean negrito (Lessonia oreas) is a cool bird that lives in the Andes mountains of South America. It belongs to a bird family called Tyrannidae, which are known as tyrant-flycatchers. This bird is a close relative of the Austral negrito, another bird found further south in South America.
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What Does the Andean Negrito Look Like?
The Andean negrito is a small bird, about 12.5 cm (4.9 in) long. That's roughly the size of a small sparrow! Male birds are a little bigger than females.
Male vs. Female Birds
Male and female Andean negritos look different. This is called being sexually dimorphic.
- Males are mostly black. They have a reddish-brown back and shiny, silvery-white flight feathers. You can usually only see these white feathers when they are flying.
- Females also have a reddish-brown back. But their head and belly are dark gray, and their upper body is blackish-brown. Their throat is whitish, and their chest has a touch of dull reddish-brown.
Special Claws
These birds have very long back claws. They are similar to the claws of a pipit, another type of bird.
Where Do Andean Negritos Live?
The Andean negrito lives in the high mountains of the Andes. You can find them in central Peru, stretching south into western Bolivia, northeastern Chile, and northern Argentina.
Mountain Homes
They usually live between 3,000 and 4,000 m (9,800 and 13,100 ft) above sea level. That's really high up! Sometimes, in Peru, they might go even higher. In Chile, they can sometimes be found as low as 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Their Favorite Places
These birds like to live near water. You'll often spot them around lakes, streams, and wet, marshy areas called bogs. They also like flat areas that get flooded sometimes. They prefer places with low plants and ground cover. The Andean negrito does not migrate, meaning it stays in the same area all year round.
How Do Andean Negritos Behave?
The Andean negrito is an insect hunter. It spends its time on the ground looking for food. You'll often see them in pairs or small family groups.
Hunting for Food
They like to perch on high spots, like small mounds of grass or rocks. From there, they watch for insects. When they spot prey, they either fly quickly to catch it in the air, or they chase it on foot along the ground.
Breeding and Nests
Scientists don't know a lot about how these birds raise their young. In Chile, they usually breed between October and January.
- Courtship Flight: Males perform a special fluttering flight display. They fly about 10–15 m (33–49 ft) into the air to impress the females.
- Nests: Their nests are simple cup shapes. They hide them well inside thick tussock grass.
- Eggs: Females usually lay 3 to 4 eggs in the nest.
