Great xenops facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great xenops |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Megaxenops
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| Species: |
parnaguae
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The great xenops (Megaxenops parnaguae) is a special type of bird. It belongs to the ovenbird family called Furnariidae. You can only find this bird in eastern Brazil. This means it is endemic to that area.
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About the Great Xenops Family Tree
The great xenops is the only bird in its group, called a genus. It doesn't have any different types or subspecies. Even though its name sounds like Xenops, it's not closely related to those birds. Instead, it's more like a cousin to two birds in the Philydor genus.
What Does the Great Xenops Look Like?
This bird is about 15 to 16 centimeters (6 inches) long. It has a strong, wedge-shaped beak that points slightly upwards. Male and female great xenops birds look the same.
Colors and Markings
Their face is mostly light orange-red. They have some blackish feathers around their eyes. Their forehead is a pale, bright cinnamon color. The top of their head and upper body are bright reddish-brown with no markings. Their tail is also a bright cinnamon-red.
Wings and Underparts
The feathers covering their wings are bright reddish-brown. The main flight feathers are bright orange-red. These feathers have dark, brownish tips. Their throat and the area around their cheeks are white. The rest of their underside is mostly light orange-red. Their sides are a bit darker. The feathers under their tail are more reddish.
Eyes, Beak, and Legs
Their eyes are dark brown. Their beak is a dusky brownish-gray color. The bottom part of their beak is white. Their legs and feet are dark gray to black.
Where the Great Xenops Lives
The great xenops lives in a diagonal strip across eastern Brazil. This area stretches from the states of Piauí and Ceará. It goes southwest through Tocantins and Bahia. It also reaches into Minas Gerais and Goiás.
Habitat and Elevation
This bird makes its home in the caatinga ecoregion. This area has dry woodlands and semi-humid forests. You can find the great xenops at elevations from 200 to 1,100 meters (about 650 to 3,600 feet) above sea level.
How the Great Xenops Behaves
Movement and Residency
The great xenops stays in the same area all year long. It does not migrate to different places.
What and How They Eat
The great xenops eats arthropods. These include many types of insects and spiders. It looks for food by itself or with a partner. Often, it joins groups of different bird species that are also looking for food.
Foraging Habits
It moves along branches, but it doesn't use its tail for support. It searches for food on live and dead leaves. It also looks under tree bark. Sometimes, it pulls or pries off bark to find hidden insects.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists do not know much about how the great xenops breeds. We don't have information about their nests, eggs, or how they raise their young.
What Does the Great Xenops Sound Like?
The great xenops has a unique song. It is a long, very high, and loud sound. It's a fast, chattering or liquid series of notes. You might hear sounds like "toc-toc-" and "Wic-wic". The song rises and falls with sudden loud parts.
Conservation Status of the Great Xenops
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) keeps track of animal populations. In 1988, they listed the great xenops as Threatened. Then, in 1994, it was changed to Vulnerable. But since 2004, it has been listed as being of Least Concern.
Population and Threats
This bird lives across a large area. Even though we don't know the exact number of birds, their population seems to be stable. However, their numbers are concentrated in certain spots. There has been fast habitat loss in some parts of their range. This is due to land being used for farming and logging for charcoal.
Resilience and Protection
Despite these challenges, the great xenops can handle some changes to its habitat. It has been seen foraging in areas that have been disturbed or heavily grazed. It also lives in several protected areas. This helps keep its population safe.
