Alternative name: Eastern Schiffornis
- Schiffornis turdina
Identification
17cm: Sexes alike. A brown or olive brown bird with no distinctive features though there are variations among the sub-species.
Has a distinctive "wide-eyed" look.
Distribution
Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, French Guiana, Suriname, Paraguay and Argentina.
Taxonomy
Five subspecies recognized:
- S. t. amazonum from southern Venezuela to eastern Peru and western Amazonian Brazil
- S. t. wallacii in tropical French Guiana, Suriname and northeast Brazil
- S. t. steinbachi from upper tropical southeast Peru to northern Bolivia
- S. t. intermedia in the campos of eastern Brazil
- S. t. turdina in southeast Brazil
Was formerly included in Thrush-like Schiffornis.
It has traditionally been placed in the manakin family, but evidence strongly suggest it is better placed in Tityridae where now placed by SACC and Opus.
Habitat
Supposedly fairly common in the lower growth of humid forest. Also in shaded secondary growth woodland. Normally seen below 1200m.
Behaviour
Not often seen. Perches quite low, clings to upright stems. Not often seen in mixed flocks.
Does respond to taped calls, but the different forms proposed split differ in their vocalizations.
References
- SACC proposal to split Thrush-like Schiffornis
- Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Schiffornis and other birds
