Marsh tapaculo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marsh tapaculo |
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Scytalopus
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| Species: |
iraiensis
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The marsh tapaculo (Scytalopus iraiensis) is a small, recently found bird. It's a type of passerine bird, which means it's a perching bird. This special bird belongs to a group called tapaculos. People also call it the wetland tapaculo or tall-grass wetland tapaculo. It lives only in Brazil, which means it is endemic to that country.
Contents
What Does the Marsh Tapaculo Look Like?
This bird is quite small and has a somewhat "dumpy" or plump shape. It has wide tail feathers. The marsh tapaculo is about 12.5 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. Its upper body is a plain blackish color. Its belly and chest are dark grey. The sides of its body, called flanks, have light brown bars or stripes. This is especially true for young birds. Its legs are reddish-brown, and its bill (beak) is dark.
What Does the Marsh Tapaculo Sound Like?
The marsh tapaculo has a special song. It's a long series of short "tchek" notes. These birds can run very fast on the ground. If something scares them, they will fly short distances to get away.
Where Does the Marsh Tapaculo Live?
The marsh tapaculo was first seen on April 19, 1997. This happened in the wetlands next to the Iraí River. This river is near a city called Curitiba in southern Brazil. For a long time, people thought these birds only lived in about two dozen places. These places were in the eastern part of Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul states.
New Discoveries
Recently, marsh tapaculos were found in the highlands of Minas Gerais. This area is much farther north than where they were known to live before! This was an exciting discovery for scientists.
Marsh Tapaculo's Home
The marsh tapaculo lives in grasslands that get flooded at certain times of the year. These areas are usually found in the floodplains of rivers. Floodplains are flat lands next to rivers that can get covered with water. The birds like areas with tall, thick plants. These plants are usually 60 to 180 centimeters (about 2 to 6 feet) tall. They are mostly sedges, like Eleocharis, and different kinds of grasses.
What Does the Marsh Tapaculo Eat?
Marsh tapaculos look for food on or near the ground. They eat small arthropods. Arthropods are tiny creatures like insects and spiders. Their main food includes insects such as bugs and beetles.
Marsh Tapaculo Life Cycle
These birds usually have their babies in the late spring season.
Why is the Marsh Tapaculo in Danger?
The marsh tapaculo is an endangered species. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. There are two main reasons for this. First, there are not many marsh tapaculos left. Second, their habitat (the place where they live) is being destroyed.
Threats to Their Home
Many things threaten the marsh tapaculo's home:
- Drainage: Wetlands are being drained of water. This turns them into dry land that the birds cannot live in.
- Sand Extraction: People dig up sand from the ground. This also destroys the birds' habitat.
- Burning: Grasslands are sometimes burned. This removes the tall plants the birds need for shelter and food.
- Dams: Building dams can cause land to flood permanently. This also destroys the birds' natural home.
Protecting the Marsh Tapaculo
Even though new groups of marsh tapaculos were found in Minas Gerais, they are still in danger. Some of these new areas are inside protected areas. These include the national parks of Serra do Cipó and Serra da Canastra. There is also a private reserve called Serra do Caraça. Even with these protected spots, experts have suggested that the bird's status should not be changed to a less threatened category. It is very important to keep working to protect these special birds and their homes.
