Crested gallito facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crested gallito |
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Rhinocrypta
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| Species: |
lanceolata
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The crested gallito (Rhinocrypta lanceolata) is a unique bird from the tapaculo family, Rhinocryptidae. It's the only species in its specific group, called a genus, which is Rhinocrypta. You can find this interesting bird in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
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About the Crested Gallito
The crested gallito is a special bird. It's the only one of its kind in the Rhinocrypta genus. Scientists have found two main types, or subspecies, of the crested gallito. One is called Rhinocrypta lanceolata lanceolata. The other is R. l. saturata, which was first described in 1939. The crested gallito is closely related to another bird called the sandy gallito.
What Does the Crested Gallito Look Like?
This bird is about 21 centimeters (8.3 inches) long. Male crested gallitos usually weigh between 59 and 63.5 grams (2.1 to 2.2 ounces). Females are a bit lighter, weighing from 51.5 to 64 grams (1.8 to 2.3 ounces).
It's an unusual bird because of its long feathers on its head. These feathers can stand up like a crest, and sometimes they even bend forward! The crested gallito also has a long tail that it often holds pointing upwards.
The main type of crested gallito has a cinnamon-colored head with white stripes. Its back, wings, and tail are olive gray. Its throat and chest are light gray. The sides of its chest are chestnut brown, and its lower belly is olive gray. The other type, R. l. saturata, looks similar but has darker colors all over its body.
Where Does the Crested Gallito Live?
The main type of crested gallito lives in northern and central Argentina. You can find it as far south as the northern Río Negro Province and southern Buenos Aires Province. The R. l. saturata subspecies lives in southeastern Bolivia and western Paraguay.
These birds prefer to live in Chaco forests. They can be found from sea level up to about 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) high. However, the R. l. saturata subspecies only lives in lower areas. They like places with thorny bushes and thick plants close to the ground.
Crested Gallito Behavior
What Do They Eat?
The crested gallito looks for its food on the ground. It also searches through low branches. It mainly eats small creatures like arthropods, which include insects and spiders.
How Do They Raise Their Young?
Crested gallitos build their nests like a ball. They use grass and other plant materials. Inside, they line the nest with soft hair or wool. They usually place their nests about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 7 feet) high in a thick bush or a small tree.
Female gallitos usually lay up to three eggs. This often happens between September and December. Both the male and female birds take turns sitting on the eggs to keep them warm. Sometimes, other birds like the Shiny cowbird might lay their eggs in the gallito's nest.
What Sounds Do They Make?
The crested gallito sings mostly during the time of year when they are raising their young. Their song is a loud, clear "chirrup" sound. They repeat this sound every 2 to 4 seconds. You can hear an example of their song here: [1]. Their call is a trilled sound, like "wheer." You can hear an example of their call here: [2].
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the crested gallito as a species of "Least Concern." This means that scientists are not worried about it becoming endangered right now. While it's not super common everywhere, it is found in good numbers in some places. It also lives in several protected areas in Argentina. The total number of these birds is not known exactly, but experts believe their population is stable.
