Munchique wood wren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Munchique wood wren |
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Henicorhina
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negreti
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The Munchique wood wren (Henicorhina negreti) is a small bird from the wren family. Scientists first officially described it in 2003. You can find this special bird only in the Western Andes mountains of Colombia.
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About the Munchique Wood Wren
Scientists like Steven Hilty first saw the Munchique wood wren in the 1980s. But it wasn't until 2000 that detailed studies by Paul Salaman and others helped them understand it was a new species. This wren has different looks and sounds compared to other wrens, especially the widespread grey-breasted wood wren.
The scientific name, Henicorhina negreti, honors Álvaro José Negret. He was a Colombian ornithologist (a scientist who studies birds) who passed away in 1998. The Munchique wood wren is a unique species, meaning it doesn't have different subspecies.
What Does It Look Like?
The Munchique wood wren is a small bird, about 10.8 to 11.7 centimeters (4.3 to 4.6 inches) long. It weighs around 15.2 to 16.7 grams (0.54 to 0.59 ounces).
Adult wrens have a dark brown head with some black marks. They have a thin white stripe above their eye and a dark line running through their eye. Their cheeks are dark with white spots. The top part of their body is a slightly brighter brown, and their tail is brown with black stripes.
Their throat is white, with black streaks at the bottom. The chest is gray, and the belly is a lighter gray. The sides and lower belly are brown with dark gray or black stripes. Young wrens are darker than adults and do not have these stripes on their belly.
Where Does It Live?
The Munchique wood wren lives on the Pacific side of Colombia's Western Andes mountains. It's only found in a few specific areas. These include the Munchique Massif in the Cauca Department and regions where the Chocó, Antioquia, and Risaralda departments meet.
This wren needs a very special kind of home. It lives in very wet and short cloud forests. These forests often have many epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants, like mosses and ferns). The area is almost always covered in fog. These birds live at high elevations, from about 2,250 to 2,640 meters (7,380 to 8,660 feet) above sea level.
Behavior
Feeding Habits
The Munchique wood wren usually looks for food close to the ground, often below 2 meters (6.6 feet). Sometimes, it might go up to 4 meters (13 feet) high. It mostly eats insects like beetles and flies. Sometimes, it joins other groups of birds that are foraging, but it doesn't stay with them for long.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scientists believe the Munchique wood wren lays its eggs in early June. This is based on the age of a young bird that was studied. However, not much more is known about how they raise their young.
Vocalization
The Munchique wood wren's song is made of 6 to 12 clear notes repeated many times. Its calls sound like "churrs," similar to other wrens.
Status and Protection
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the Munchique wood wren as a Vulnerable species. This means it faces a high risk of becoming endangered in the wild. Before 2018, it was considered Critically Endangered, which is an even higher risk.
Even though the area where it could potentially live is large, the actual amount of suitable forest habitat is very small. It might be as small as 8 square kilometers (3 square miles). These birds are found in national parks, but sometimes forests are still cleared there. Scientists estimate there might be up to 15,000 of these birds, but this number could be much lower.
Images for kids
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A Munchique wood wren perched on a branch.
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Map showing the distribution of the Munchique wood wren.
See also
