Black-crowned antpitta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-crowned antpitta |
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| Genus: |
Pittasoma
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| Species: |
michleri
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The black-crowned antpitta (Pittasoma michleri) is a special kind of bird. It belongs to a family called the gnateaters. You can find this bird living in countries like Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. It loves to live in warm, wet forests that are found on the lower parts of mountains.
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What Kind of Bird Is It?
The black-crowned antpitta is one of two species in its group, called Pittasoma. Even though its name has "antpitta" in it, it's actually not in the main antpitta family. Scientists used to think it was related to "antthrushes," but now they know it's part of the gnateater family. They figured this out by looking at its DNA (which is like its genetic blueprint), how it looks, the sounds it makes, and how it lives.
The name Pittasoma comes from the word Pitta, which is another type of bird, and a Greek word "sōma," meaning "body." The second part of its scientific name, michleri, is a way to honor a person named Brigadier-General Nathaniel Michler. Sometimes, people also call this bird the black-crowned pittasoma or the black-crowned gnatpitta.
Different Types of Black-crowned Antpittas
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the black-crowned antpitta:
- P. m. michleri: This is the original type. You can find it in most of Panama and a small part of northwestern Colombia.
- P. m. zeledoni: This type lives on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica and in western Panama. Its name honors José Castulo Zeledón.
What Does It Look Like?
The black-crowned antpitta is about 18 to 19 centimeters (about 7 to 7.5 inches) long. That's roughly the length of a regular pencil. It weighs about 99 to 110 grams, which is similar to the weight of a small apple.
Where Does It Live?
This bird lives in Panama, Costa Rica, and the northwestern part of Colombia. In Costa Rica, it usually lives in places that are 300 to 1000 meters (about 1,000 to 3,300 feet) high on mountains. But in Panama, you can also find it in lower areas.
What Does It Eat?
The black-crowned antpitta is a hunter! It eats small creatures without backbones, like different kinds of insects, spiders, and scorpions. It also likes to eat small animals with backbones, such as tiny frogs and small reptiles.
