Animalia Life

Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii
SUBFAMILY
Synallaxeinae
TAXONOMY
Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii Des Murs, 1847.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Synallaxe de Des Murs; German: Sechsfedernschlьpfer; Spanish: Colilarga Comъn.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Body length is 7.5–9 in (19–23 cm). The rather long bill is about the same length as the head, straight, and sharply pointed. The body is small and the tail is extremely long and thin; it is about twice the length of the main part of the body. Most of this lengthy tail is formed of the elongated central pair of tail-feathers (or retrices), with the lateral pair of retrices being about half as long as the central ones. The sexes are similar. The overall coloration is rufous-brown on the back, with a tan belly, a reddish crown of the head, and a light-tan stripe over the eye.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs in southern and central Chile and adjacent western Argentina.
HABITAT
Inhabits the dense undergrowth vegetation of primary temperate forest dominated by southern beech (Nothofagus species), as well as mature secondary woodland containing dense stands of the bamboo Chusquea. Occurs as high as about 3,300 ft (1,000 m).
BEHAVIOR
Non-migratory. Usually occurs singly or in pairs. Defends a breeding territory. It is a skulking, largely terrestrial bird. The song is a loud series of notes.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Forages for insects and other small invertebrates, mostly within foliage.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Constructs a ball-shaped, enclosed nest of grasses and other fibers, with a side-hole entrance. The nest is placed close to the ground surface. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and rear the nestlings.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. A locally abundant species within its habitat.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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