Pardusco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pardusco |
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| Conservation status | |
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Nephelornis
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| Species: |
oneilli
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The pardusco (scientific name: Nephelornis oneilli) is a small, olive-brown bird. It belongs to the tanager family. This special bird lives only in the Andes mountains of central Peru. You can find it in woodlands near the timberline, which is the edge where trees stop growing due to the high altitude.
Parduscos are usually seen in groups. Sometimes, these groups even join up with other types of birds to form "mixed species flocks." Even though they live in a small area, there are many parduscos there. Because of this, experts like BirdLife International and IUCN say the pardusco is a species of least concern. This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
About the Pardusco
The pardusco is a small bird, known for its soft olive-brown feathers. It's the only species in its group, called the Nephelornis genus. This makes it quite unique!
These birds are often seen flying and feeding together. They are very social. When they join mixed species flocks, it means they team up with different kinds of birds to search for food or to watch out for predators. This can be a smart way for birds to stay safe and find more food.
Naming the Pardusco
The pardusco was officially named in 1976. Two American bird experts, George Lowery and Dan Tallman, described it for the first time. They found specimens of the bird in the Department of Huánuco in central Peru.
They gave the bird its scientific name, Nephelornis oneilli. The name Nephelornis comes from Ancient Greek words. Nephelē means "cloud" and ornis means "bird." So, Nephelornis means "cloud bird." This name fits well because they live in cloudy, high-altitude areas. The second part of the name, oneilli, was chosen to honor another bird expert, John Patton O'Neill.
Scientists have studied the pardusco's family tree. A study in 2014 looked at the DNA of many tanagers. It found that the pardusco is closely related to the black-backed bush tanager. The pardusco is a "monotypic" species. This means there are no different types or subspecies of the pardusco. It's just one kind of bird!
See also
In Spanish: Nephelornis oneilli para niños
