Hooded gnateater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hooded gnateater |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Conopophagidae |
| Genus: | Conopophaga |
| Species: |
C. roberti
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| Binomial name | |
| Conopophaga roberti Hellmayr, 1905
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The hooded gnateater (Conopophaga roberti) is a small, unique bird found only in northern Brazil. It gets its name from the dark "hood" of feathers on its head, especially noticeable on the males. This bird is a fascinating part of the Amazon rainforest's amazing wildlife. It belongs to the family Conopophagidae, known as gnateaters.
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A Unique Bird
The hooded gnateater is a very special bird because it's the only one of its kind in its group. This means there are no other subspecies or variations of the hooded gnateater.
What Does It Look Like?
The hooded gnateater is a small bird, about 11 to 14 cm (4.3 to 5.5 in) long. That's roughly the size of a small sparrow! It weighs between 20.8 and 25.0 g (0.73 and 0.88 oz), which is about the weight of a few quarters.
Male and Female Differences
Male hooded gnateaters have a striking appearance. Their head, neck, and lower chest are black, making them look like they are wearing a hood. They also have a small, bright white tuft of feathers right behind each eye. Their upper body is brown, while their sides are gray and their belly is white.
Female hooded gnateaters look a bit different. They have a reddish-brown (rufous) crown on their head. Their back is brown, and their face, throat, and underside are a pale gray color.
Where Do They Live?
The hooded gnateater lives only in northeastern Brazil. You can find them south of the Amazon River in areas like eastern Pará, much of Maranhão, and Piauí, stretching into western Ceará.
Their Home in the Forest
These birds prefer to live in primary forest (old, untouched forests) and mature secondary forest (forests that have grown back after being disturbed). They like both evergreen forests, which stay green all year, and seasonally dry forests. They especially love areas with dense, thick plants where they can hide and find food. They live from sea level up to about 300 m (980 ft) in elevation.
Behavior and Habits
What Do They Eat?
The hooded gnateater's diet mainly consists of small arthropods. These are tiny creatures like insects and spiders. They are skilled at finding these small bugs in the dense forest undergrowth.
Reproduction and Nests
Scientists don't know a lot about how hooded gnateaters raise their young. We only have information from two nests that have been found. These nests were shaped like open cups and were made from coarse plant fibers. Each nest contained a clutch of two eggs.
Sounds and Calls
The hooded gnateater has a unique song and call. Its song is described as "a rapid, slightly musical ascending series of notes" [1]. This means it's a quick, rising tune. Its call is a sharp, piercing sound, like "a piercing tchief! or a hard tcheek!" [2].
Conservation Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) keeps track of how many animals are left in the wild. They have assessed the hooded gnateater as a species of Least Concern. This means that, for now, there are enough of these birds in the wild, and they are not considered to be in immediate danger of disappearing.
However, it's interesting to note that this bird was once thought to be "Threatened." Some researchers even suggest that it should be rated "Near Threatened" now, meaning we should keep an eye on its population. Protecting their forest homes is important to keep these unique birds safe for the future.
 | Dorothy Vaughan |
 | Charles Henry Turner |
 | Hildrus Poindexter |
 | Henry Cecil McBay |
