Bulletin 444 - Brazil 2025 #3 - Funarids (Ovenbirds) part 2

 The Atlantic Forest is a unique ecosystem from sea level to about 1 mile elevation. It contains 800 species of birds (225 endemic) and 26 species of primates. Unfortunately it also contains 2 mega cities - Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and the resulting sprawl and clearing for agriculture since the Portuguese arrived 500 years ago, has wiped out 90%+ of the original forest. About 250 species of amphibians, birds and mammals have gone extinct in the past 400 years. The good news is that many preserves and parks have been set aside to try and preserve the remaining biodiversity. Many of the birds have wide distribution, but others are restricted toa tiny area of original forest usually above 2500 foot elevation. The Birds of Brazil guide book by Ber Van Perlo was published in 2009. He gives the chances of seeing the birds and many are listed as R - meaning rare with a negligible chance of finding them. However with the excellent guide (Alex Mesquita) and going point to point where the reported sightings have recently occurred, we saw many of them. We drove over 2000 miles in the 2 weeks to see as many of these rarities as well as the more common birds. I will indicate the R species.

In 2023 I visited the southern part of this area. In 2025 I visited the northern part. Some of the photos will be ones I had not sent for the 2023 trip.

The funarids are mostly rufous birds and sexes usually have the same plumage.

The 8" Greater Thornbird (Phacellodomus ruber) has rufous a cap, wings and tail. The throat and breast are white. The eye is yellow.

Greater Thornbird

His cousin, the 6.5" Orange-breasted Thornbird (Phacellodomus ferrugineigula) is a very attractive funarid.

Orange-breasted Thornbird

Another is the endemic 6.5" Orange-eyed Thornbird (Phacellodomus erythrophthalmus). He is unusual for a funarid as he is mostly olive in color rather than rufous. He is another Brazil endemic.

Orange-eyed Thornbird

The 6.7" Rufous-fronted Thornbird (Phacellodomus rufifrons) is pale brown exceptnfor reddish forehead.

Rufous-fronted Thornbird

Here is one of their stick nests.

Thornbird nest

The 7.5" Firewood Gatherer (Anumbius annumbi) is a bird I wanted to see because of its unusual name. I did not see its nest - but it is up to 42" high and 16" wide.

Firewood Gatherer

The 7" Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner (Syndactyla rufosuperciliata) actually sat out in the open for me.

Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner

The endemic 7.75" White-collared Foliage-gleaner (Anabazenops fuscus) has a white eye stripe and white collar.

White-collared Foliage-gleaner

The 9.8" endemic Caatinga Cacholote (Pseudiseisura cristata) is a very large rusty brown funarid.

Caatinga Cacholote

The 7.5" Grey-crested Cacholote (Pseudiseisura unirufa) is rusty brown except for a gray crest.

Grey-crested Cacholote

Lastly is the 7.5" Rufous-breasted Leaftosser (Sclerurus scansor). It has a white throat and is otherwise another rufous funarid.

Rufous-breasted Leaftosser

I put the different bird/mammal families in single folders for easy viewing

I have photos of 74 of the 321 species of ovenbirds

Happy birding and photography,

David McDonald

dkmmdpa@gmail.com

photos copyright 2006 - 2025 David McDonald

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