Brown-eared macarassari
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Brown-eared macaws ( Pteroglossus castanotis ) |
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| Pteroglossus castanotis | ||||||||||
| Gould , 1834 |
The brown-eared macaws ( Pteroglossus castanotis ) is a species of bird from the toucan family, which belongs to the colorful genus of the black macaws. Due to the conspicuous shape of its beak, the brown-eared macaw can be clearly identified as a toucan species. It occurs exclusively in South America and has a very large distribution area there. The IUCN classifies the brown-eared macaw as 
(= least concern - not endangered).
There are two subspecies.
Appearance
measurements and weight
The body length of adult brown eared macaws is 43 to 46 centimeters. The males of the nominate form have a wing length between 14.8 and 16.8 centimeters. The tail accounts for 14.3 to 16.4 centimeters. The beak length is 10.3 to 13.6 centimeters. Females have similar body dimensions, but their beak is slightly shorter at 9.4 to 12.2 centimeters. Both sexes weigh between 230 and 310 grams.
Beak and plumage
Adult males of the nominate form are black from forehead to nape. If the plumage is badly worn, this area can also appear dark chocolate brown. The sides of the neck, the ear covers and the lower sides of the face are dark maroon to black brown. The back is dark green up to the middle and washed over bluish in some individuals. The lower back is bright red to dark red up to the upper tail covers. The stepped tail is dark green on top, the feather shafts are black-brown. On the underside, the tail shimmers pale yellowish green.
The chin is soot-colored, the front throat is dark chestnut brown and in some individuals has a reddish tinge. The front half of the chest is yellow, underneath there is a wide red band that widens slightly on the sides of the body. The belly is yellow, the under tail-coverts are yellow with red or rust-colored feathers, the thighs are dark chestnut-colored or chestnut-colored and greenish. The beak is long and pointed. The upper beak is horn-colored to yellow-orange with a black ridge stripe and elongated black triangles on the side. The lower mandible is black with a yellow border at the root. The featherless facial skin is bright blue, turquoise or gray to greenish gray. The eyes are yellowish to white. The legs are green-gray. Females are similar to males, but their skull is more brownish in the middle. Young birds have an overall duller plumage, the red chest band is less developed in them and looks more brown. Their beak is shorter and the black side drawing of the upper beak is missing.
Possible confusion
The brown-eared arassari is one of the largest Arassari species and cannot be confused with any other species due to its chestnut-colored ear covers. In the distribution area there is also the very large Krauskopfarassari , which, however, has a significantly lighter lower bill. The double- banded arassari has a striking dark chest band. The red-headed carassari not only differs in a different color on the underside of the body, but also has a predominantly light beak, which is horn-colored instead of orange-yellow as the brown-eared carassari.
Distribution area and habitat
The distribution area of the brown eared arassaris extends over large parts of South America. It predominantly inhabits wooded lowlands near rivers. It occurs from Colombia along the Andes to Ecuador and Peru as well as Bolivia . Large parts of Brazil , the northern part of Argentina and Paraguay also belong to the distribution area . It is usually the most common species of toucan in much of Brazil and eastern Paraguay. In Colombia it occurs up to an altitude of 500 meters. In Ecuador and Peru it is still observed at an altitude of 1200 meters, in Bolivia it occasionally occurs up to an altitude of 1300 meters.
Its habitat includes forests of the lowlands that are regularly flooded, the Várzea , wooded lake shores, forests along rivers, secondary forests and forest edges. It penetrates along rivers to the Cerrado . He also populates plantations and remnants of forests on cattle farms. In the lowlands he prefers to stay in areas where other black macaws are not represented. He avoids regions in the northwest of South America in which the double-banded arassari occurs. In the northeast of the Mato Grosso , however, its distribution area overlaps with the black-throated macaw . In young, regrowing forests, it is much less common than the written arassari or the red headed arassari.
Way of life
Fruits are the most important part of their diet, and the brown-eared arassari also eats insects, flowers and nectar. He hunts birds regularly and mainly eats young birds of species such as the red-backed pigeon or the yellow- backed front bird . It also attacks the clutches and nestlings of larger species such as the broad-hooded front bird ( Psarocolius angustifrons ). When it eats fruit, it occasionally hangs upside down on branches. He regularly examines tree crevices and hollows with his beak. It rests in tree hollows and mainly uses old woodpecker holes. He occasionally drives black-throated woodpeckers from their burrows. It is also documented that a group of brown-eared arassaris drove a written arassari from its tree hole. The tree hollow was then used as a nesting place by the Brown Eararassaris.
The reproductive biology of the brown-eared macaw has not yet been adequately investigated. The clutch comprises two to four eggs. The breeding time varies depending on the geographical latitude. Data on the incubation period are not known.
supporting documents
literature
- Werner Lantermann: Toucans and Arassaris. Filander Verlag, Fürth 2002, ISBN 3-930831-46-5
- Lester L. Short and Jennifer FM Horne: Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides - Ramphastidae, Capitonidae and Indicatoridae . Oxford University Press, Oxford 2001, ISBN 0-19-854666-1
Single receipts
- ^ Lantermann, p. 133
- ↑ Short et al., P. 387 and p. 388
- ↑ Short et al., P. 386
- ^ Lantermann, p. 133
- ↑ Short et al., P. 388 and p. 389
- ↑ Short et al., P. 389
- ↑ Lantermann, p. 134
Web link
- Pteroglossus castanotis inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013.1. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2013.