White-plumed antbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-plumed antbird |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pithys
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| Species: |
albifrons
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| Synonyms | |
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Pipra albifrons Linnaeus, 1766 |
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The white-plumed antbird (Pithys albifrons) is a small bird that eats insects. It belongs to a group of birds called "typical antbirds." You can find this bird in several South American countries. These include Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
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What's in a Name?
The white-plumed antbird was first officially described in 1766. This was done by a Swedish scientist named Carl Linnaeus. He gave it the scientific name Pipra albifrons.
This bird has two main types, called subspecies. They are P. a. albifrons and P. a. peruvianus. The white-plumed antbird is related to the white-masked antbird (P. castaneus). Both are part of the Pithys group of birds.
What It Looks Like
The white-plumed antbird is about 11.5 to 12.5 centimeters (4.5 to 4.9 inches) long. It weighs between 18 and 23 grams (0.6 to 0.8 ounces). Both male and female birds look the same.
Adult birds have special white tufts of feathers. These are on their forehead and chin. Their head and face are black. One type of this bird has a white stripe above and behind its eye. Their upper body and wings are gray. Their neck, tail, and belly are a reddish-brown color. Their feet are bright orange. Their beak is small, which helps them catch insects.
Young birds look a bit different. They do not have the white feathers or the reddish-brown neck. Their upper body is more brown, and their belly is grayer.
How Their Feathers Change
Young white-plumed antbirds change their feathers soon after they start feeding themselves. This is their first feather change. Adult birds usually change their feathers only once a year. This process can take a long time, about 301 days. Sometimes, they might not change feathers every year.
Where It Lives
The white-plumed antbird lives in different parts of South America. One type, P. a. albifrons, lives in southern Venezuela, the Guianas, and parts of Brazil. The other type, P. a. peruvianus, lives from western Venezuela south through eastern Colombia, western Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.
These birds live in the lower parts of evergreen forests. They also live in older forests that have grown back. They prefer forests with tall trees and lots of different plants. They can be found at different heights, from lowlands up to 2,250 meters (7,380 feet) in some areas.
Each pair of antbirds needs a large area to live in. This helps them find enough army ant swarms to follow for food. They usually stay away from open areas. They also do not like to cross rivers. However, they have been seen crossing roads to get to other parts of the forest.
Behavior
White-plumed antbirds are very good at protecting their homes. They will stay even if there are conflicts, as long as they have enough food. When it's not breeding season, they usually live alone. They follow individual swarms of army ants through the forest.
Like other antbirds, they do something called "anting." This is when they rub small insects through their wing and tail feathers. Scientists are still trying to figure out why they do this. It might help with itching during feather changes, kill tiny bugs, or remove poisons from insects.
What They Eat
The white-plumed antbird is an insectivore, meaning it eats insects. It also eats other small creatures like spiders and sometimes lizards. They usually look for food close to the ground, but can feed up to 1 meter (3 feet) high.
These birds are "obligate antbirds." This means they mostly eat prey that is disturbed by swarms of army ants. Many antbirds, sometimes as many as 20, will follow an ant swarm to find food.
How They React to Danger
When looking for food, white-plumed antbirds might stay very still for a long time. This helps them avoid bigger antbirds or predators. If they feel threatened, they might "panic, flee and chip." This means they dart around, make chipping sounds, and flick their tails. They might quickly grab any last food items before flying away. If a human comes near, they often make a chirring sound. They might also "mob" the person, which means they gather together and make noise to scare the intruder away.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The way white-plumed antbirds find a mate is similar to other antbirds. The male bird feeds the female. They also groom each other. The male shows the female possible places for a nest. This is called "draping."
Both the male and female help build the nest. They usually build their cup-shaped nests on top of live plants. These can be small palms or other plants. The nest is often hidden in dead leaves on the plant to keep it safe from predators. The nests are made of dark roots inside and dead leaves outside.
Usually, two eggs are laid at a time. The eggs are a rosy-white color with rosy-brown spots and thin lines. After the chicks hatch, they are fed for about a month. In some places, like Manaus, these birds breed for much of the year. Females might even leave their mate to start a new nest with a different mate very quickly.
Their Calls and Songs
The white-plumed antbird has 11 different calls. Eight of these calls are similar to another bird, the Bicolored Antbird. Three of their calls are quite unique. They have a loud, complex, and special whistling song. This song is used by mates and young birds when they are separated. It is also used by birds looking for ants.
An adult might sing three or more short, soft tweeting notes ("see-see-see") when looking for a young bird or a mate. If they don't appear quickly, the adult might then say "beie, beie, beie." Their other calls are usually quieter and shorter than those of other antbirds. Some of their calls are used when they are fighting or to warn others about predators. They have two main warning calls. One is very high and thin, making it hard for predators to find the bird. The other is a buzzing sound, mostly for ground predators and humans. This buzzing sound sounds like the low growls of some meat-eating animals.
Status
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says the white-plumed antbird is of "Least Concern." This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing. It lives in a very large area. Even though its exact population size is unknown, it is thought to be stable. No immediate threats have been found.
This bird is common throughout its range. It lives in many protected areas. Also, its home includes large areas of untouched forest. These areas are not likely to be developed soon. The bird also seems to survive in forests that have been partly cut down. However, it does not do well in very small pieces of forest.
