Long-legged Bush Warbler
| Long-legged Bush Warbler | ||||||||||||
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| Cincloramphus rufus | ||||||||||||
| ( Reichenow , 1890) |
The long-legged bush warbler ( Cincloramphus rufus , Syn . : Trichocichla rufa , Megalurulus rufus ) is a rare songbird from the grass warbler family (Locustellidae). It is endemic to the Fiji Islands, where the islanders refer to it as manu kalou (ghost bird). The long-legged bush warbler was originally described in the monotypical genus Trichocichla . Then he stood for a long time in the genus Megalurulus . Today it is attributed to the genus Cincloramphus based on more recent molecular genetic studies (2018) .
description
The long-legged bush warbler reaches a size of 19 centimeters and a weight of about 24 grams. A noticeable white stripe above the eyes runs from the base of the beak to the nape of the neck. The crown of the head and the ear covers are a vivid brown. The top is rust brown with an olive tinge. The wings and tail are reddish brown. The throat and chest are pure white. The flanks are reddish tan. The rump is brown. The iris is brown, the beak gray. The long, strong legs are light pink, the feet are light. The long tail is rounded at the tip. The sexes look the same. Young birds have not yet been described.
voice
The singing consists of variable short phrases of loud, clear, melodic notes. Each phrase is repeated several times at intervals of several seconds or minutes. The reputation of the long-legged bush singer consists of harsh curses.
distribution and habitat
The nominate form Cincloramphus rufus rufus inhabits original mountain forests near small rivers or streams at altitudes between 800 and 1000 meters on the island of Viti Levu . The long-legged bush warbler was observed most frequently on steep mountain slopes in landslide areas, where pioneer plants , shrubs, tree ferns and pepper plants form a dense undergrowth. The subspecies Cincloramphus rufus cluniei is only known from the Nambauloa river basin on Vanua Levu .
Way of life
Very little is known about the long-legged bush singer's way of life. Its diet probably consists of small invertebrates that it picks up on the ground. Two young birds that had just fledged were observed in November 2003.
status
Until 2003, the long-legged bush singer was only known from four museum specimens collected on Viti Levu between 1890 and 1894. Unconfirmed sightings are said to have occurred in 1967, 1973 and 1991. In June 1974 the ornithologist Frederich-Carl Kinsky found the holotype of the subspecies Megalurulus rufus cluniei on Vanua Levu . Since then, this taxon has not been proven. In 2003 a team from BirdLife International discovered a new population of the nominate form in the Wabu Forest Reserve on Viti Levu . Through intensive field work on Viti Levu between November 2003 and 2005, twelve pairs were observed in the strictly protected Wabu Forest Reserve, three birds near the Monasavu dam and three pairs outside the Monasavu river basin. Another specimen was observed in the river basin of the Sovi. In August 2009 the first nest of this type was discovered near the village of Monosavu .
The main threats are small mongooses , house rats and deforestation. The estimated population of 50 to 250 specimens seems to be stable at the moment, so that the species is listed by BirdLife International in the category "endangered" ( endangered ).
literature
- J. Del Hoyo, A. Elliot, David A. Christie (Eds.): Handbook of the Birds of the World . Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions 2006, ISBN 84-96553-06-X
- Harold Douglas Pratt , P. Bruner, and D. Berrett: The Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton University Press, Princeton 1987, ISBN 0-691-08402-5
Web links
- Megalurulus rufus in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed January 31 of 2009.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings on Megalurulus rufus in the Internet Bird Collection
- Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule To List Six Foreign Birds as Endangered; Final Rule PDF online ( Memento from September 16, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (301.86 kB)
- Holotype of Trichocichla rufa cluniei in the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum
- BirdLife Species factsheet
- BBC - Fiji's 'extinct' bird flies anew
- First ever nest of the long-legged warbler
Individual evidence
- ↑ Per Alström, A. Cibois, M. Irestedt, D. Zuccon, M. Gelang, J. Fjeldså, MJ Andersen, RG Moyle, E. Pasquet, & U. Olsson: Comprehensive molecular phylogeny of the grassbirds and allies (Locustellidae) reveals extensive non-monophyly of traditional genera, and a proposal for a new classification . In: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 2018, p. 367–375 , doi : 10.1016 / j.ympev.2018.03.029 .