Collared gnatwren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Collared gnatwren |
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Microbates
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collaris
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The collared gnatwren (Microbates collaris) is a small, active bird. It belongs to the gnatcatcher family, called Polioptilidae. You can find this bird in several South American countries. These include Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
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About the Collared Gnatwren
Different Types of Gnatwrens
Birds are often grouped into different types called subspecies. These are like slightly different versions of the same animal. Scientists sometimes disagree on how many subspecies there are. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and BirdLife International (BLI) recognize five types of collared gnatwren:
- M. c. paraguensis
- M. c. collaris
- M. c. torquatus
- M. c. perlatus
- M. c. colombianus
Another group, the Clements taxonomy, has slightly different ideas. They combine some of these types.
What They Look Like
The collared gnatwren is about 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) long. It weighs between 10 to 12 grams (0.35 to 0.42 ounces). The most common type has a brown back and creamy white belly. Its head has a brown top, a white stripe above its eye, and white cheeks and throat. A thick black line goes through its eye.
On its chest, it has a wide black band. Its sides are olive-brown. Male and female collared gnatwrens look very similar. The other types of gnatwrens have small differences. These include slightly different colors on their backs and sides. Some also have wider or narrower facial markings.
Where They Live
The different types of collared gnatwrens live in specific areas:
- M. c. paraguensis lives in eastern Venezuela.
- M. c. collaris lives in southeastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, and northern Brazil.
- M. c. torquatus lives in the Guianas and Brazil's Amapá state.
- M. c. perlatus lives in south-southeastern Colombia, northeastern Peru, and northwestern Brazil.
- M. c. colombianus lives in south-central Colombia and northeastern Ecuador.
Collared gnatwrens usually live in the thick plants under wet, humid forests. These forests are often near water. They mostly live below 500 meters (1,600 feet) in elevation. They rarely go to the edges of forests. In French Guiana and Suriname, they live in primary rainforest, which means forests that have not been disturbed much by humans.
Gnatwren Behavior
What They Eat
The collared gnatwren mostly eats small arthropods. These are tiny creatures like insects and spiders. It hunts very close to the ground. It picks food from leaves and searches through fallen leaves. This bird often joins groups of different bird species that hunt together. It might also follow swarms of army ants to catch insects that the ants stir up.
How They Raise Their Young
We don't have a lot of information about how collared gnatwrens breed. One nest was found in Brazil in mid-May. Young birds that had just learned to fly were seen in Guyana between August and October.
The nest was a bulky cup made of rotted leaves. It was lined with soft material. The nest was hidden close to the ground in a palmetto plant. It held two eggs.
Their Sounds
The collared gnatwren's song is a series of soft, thin notes. It sounds like "peeee" or "eeeeea" [1]. They also have a special sound they make when they sense danger, called an alarm call [2].
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has looked at the collared gnatwren. They have assessed it as being of "Least Concern." This means the bird is not currently in danger of disappearing. None of the types of collared gnatwrens live in areas that are considered to be under serious threat.
