Dwarf rush claw
| Dwarf rush claw | ||||||||||
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Dwarf rush claw |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name of the genus | ||||||||||
| Heliornis | ||||||||||
| Bonnaterre , 1791 | ||||||||||
| Scientific name of the species | ||||||||||
| Heliornis fulica | ||||||||||
| ( Boddaert , 1783) |
The dwarf rush claw ( Heliornis fulica ), also known as the dwarf rush chicken , is a 26 to 33 centimeter member of the rush claw family . The weight of the individual animals is between 125 and 150 grams.
Appearance
The slender birds have an olive brown to dark gray back plumage. The tail is dark gray, the tips of the tail are black and colored white at the end. The chest is light brown, the belly is white. The legs are light brown and have 3 thick black dots on the top. The claws are black. The neck is black and has a thick elongated white stripe in the middle. The head is also black on the forehead and there is a thin, elongated white stripe on the sides. The area under the eye is light brown. The beak is red and the tip of the beak is colored black. Males and females differ only minimally in the color of their plumage. The males are slightly larger and heavier than the females. There are webbed feet between the yellow toes.
distribution and habitat
The dwarf rush claw is represented in southern Mexico, all of Central America as well as Bolivia and Argentina. It occurs in stagnant or slow-flowing waters such as forest streams, overgrown banks of rivers and lagoons.
Way of life
It feeds on insects, other invertebrates and their larvae, as well as amphibians and fish, which it prey on while diving. It also eats plant seeds and other small animals. Although it can fly well, when in danger it prefers to take refuge in the thick undergrowth to hide. These birds are true to location all year round. The dwarf rush claw is diurnal and spends the night in its tree nest. They are usually very silent and only emit barking, grunting or bubbling sounds during courtship or to defend their territory.
Reproduction
The female lays 2–4 eggs in the nest, which is created in a tree or shrub rising above the water. After an 11-day breeding season, the naked, blind young hatch. They are then removed from the nest by the male and transported in skin pockets in the armpit under the wings, both when swimming and when flying.
Hazards and protective measures
Since this species is still relatively common and no threats are known, it is classified by the IUCN as ( Least Concern ) not endangered.
literature
- David Burnie (Ed.), Mariele Radmacher-Martens: Animals: The large picture encyclopedia with over 2,000 species. Translated from the English by Gabriele Lehari. Dorling Kindersley, Munich 2012, ISBN 978-3-8310-2232-8 , p. 306.
- The great world empire of the animals Page 239, 240 Publisher: Planet Media AG, Zug 1992 ISBN 3-8247-8614-1
- Christopher M. Perrins : The Great Encyclopedia of Birds. Orbis Verlag, 1996 (German translation from English) ISBN 3-572-00810-7 , pp. 130, 132.
- Fascinating Vogelwelt Page: 82, 83 Publisher: Karl Müller 1992 (German translation from English) ISBN 3-86070-320-X
- Wilhelm owner (ed.), Erna Mohr: Encyclopedia of the animals. Volume 2, Weltbild, Augsburg 1991, ISBN 978-3-89350-361-2 , p. 313.
- Christopher M. Perrins (Ed.): The FSVO encyclopedia birds of the world. Translated from the English by Einhard Bezzel. BLV, Munich / Vienna / Zurich 2004, ISBN 978-3-405-16682-3 , p. 223 (title of the original English edition: The New Encyclopedia Of Birds. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2003).
Web links
- Heliornis fulica inthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017.2. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2017.