Perija thistle tail
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Perija thistle tail ( Asthenes perijana ) |
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| WH Phelps Jr. , 1977 |
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The Perija thistle tail ( Asthenes perijana , syn .: Schizoeaca perijana ), also called Perijacanastero or Perijaschlüpfer , is a species of bird from the family of potters (Furnariidae). The species occurs in the South American countries Colombia and Venezuela . The stock is on the IUCN (as "critically endangered" Endangered ) classified. This species is considered monotypical .
features
The Perija thistle tail reaches a body length between 19 and 22 centimeters. The light brown control feathers are up to 11.6 centimeters long, pointed and stepped. The plumage is predominantly gray-brown, the underside towards the belly pale white-gray. The stripe above the eyes is grayish, the eye shows a white ring. The throat is dotted with dark spots with a cinnamon-colored throat spot. The upper wing coverts have a reddish brown hem. There is no gender dimorphism .
distribution and habitat
The Perija thistle-tail is found in Superpáramo and bush vegetation at altitudes between 3000 and 3400 meters. He also lives crooked wood overgrown by moss near the tree line. The occurrence is limited exclusively to the Sierra de Perijá , here especially on the northwestern slopes of the Cerro Pintado on the border between Colombia in the department de La Guajira and Venezuela in the state of Zulia .
behavior
The species is often seen in pairs when foraging, always looking for arthropods and occasionally also for berries. The breeding season is probably in July. As not very much is known about the species, it is believed that it behaves similarly to the white-chin thistle tail ( Schizoeaca fuliginosa ).
etymology
While the first part of the generic name is derived from the Greek word schizo (= to split), the second part can be derived from acantha (= thorn or thistle). The name describes the typical split and thorn-like pointed tail of this genus. The word part perijana for the species refers to the Sierra de Perijá, the area in which the Perija thistle tail is native.
Danger
Threats in the Colombian part of the Sierra de Perijá consist of drug cultivation, uncontrolled settlements, cattle breeding and excavation for minerals. Numerous roads leading there support this development. Although this does not seem to have any influence on the species' biotope in the higher elevations, drug cultivation in particular leads to an increasing fragmentation of the habitats below 2000 m. There are only smaller areas of mountain forest near Cerro Pintado. More forests are being burned and destroyed, especially for the purpose of growing poppies. Protection of these areas seems very difficult due to the tense security situation.
literature
- Steven Leon Hilty , William Leroy Brown : A guide to the birds of Colombia . Princeton University Press, Princeton 1986, ISBN 978-0-691-09250-8 .
- Steven Leon Hilty, John A. Gwynne, Guy Tudor : Birds of Venezuela . Princeton University Press, Princeton 2002, ISBN 978-0-691-09250-8 .
Web links
- Asthenes perijana inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011.2. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2008. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- BirdLife International: Species Factsheet - Perija Thistletail ( Asthenes perijana ) . Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of Perija Thistletail (Asthenes perijana) in the Internet Bird Collection
- Perija thistle tail ( Asthenes perijana ) at Avibase; Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- Schizoeaca perijana in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- xeno-canto: Sound recordings - Perija Thistletail ( Asthenes perijana )