Animalia Life

Phleocryptes melanops
SUBFAMILY
Synallaxeinae
TAXONOMY
Phleocryptes melanops Vieillot, 1817.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Synallaxe troglodyte; German: Rohrschlьpfer; Spanish: Junquero Trabajador.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Body length is about 5.5 in (13.5–14.5 cm). Bill is short, slightly downcurved, and pointed. The body is small and chunky, and the tail is moderately short and tipped with two short spines emerging from the tips of the central pair of tail-feathers. The sexes are similar. The back is colored brown with whitish streaks, the tail is brown, the wings are brown with rufous patches, the throat and belly are whitish bordered with buff, the crown of the head is dark brown, and there is a buff-white stripe over the eye.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs widely in southern South America, including western Peru, western Bolivia, Chile, southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
HABITAT
Inhabits reedbeds of marshes and lake margins, including both fresh and brackish waterbodies. Occurs as high as about 14,100 ft (4,300 m).
BEHAVIOR
Northern populations are non-migratory, but southern ones may migrate to spend the winter in northern parts of the species range. Occurs as pairs during the breeding season. The song is a quiet series of ticking notes.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Forages for insects and other small invertebrates on muddy ground, among reedy vegetation, among floating plants, and even in shallow water.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Constructs a spherical nest attached to reeds, with a side entrance near the top. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and rear the nestlings.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened. A widespread and locally abundant species within its reedy habitat.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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