Montero Piquirrojo
Gray-hooded Bush-tanager (subsp.)
Cnemoscopus (rubrirostris) rubrirostris
Song
Gray-hooded Bush-tanager (subsp.)
Appearance: The Gray-hooded Bush Tanager is characterized by its gray hood, which covers its head and neck. Its body is olive-green, with some variations depending on the subspecies. It has a stout, reddish bill, which is quite noticeable. The bird's underparts are lighter, and it may have subtle markings or color variations depending on the specific subspecies.
Habitat: This species inhabits montane forests and is often found at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 m. It prefers humid forest environments and is commonly seen in the understory or mid-levels of the forest. The Gray-hooded Bush Tanager is often associated with cloud forests and can also be found in secondary growth and forest edges.
Behavior: The Gray-hooded Bush Tanager is a social bird, often seen in pairs or small groups. It is an active forager, moving through foliage in search of insects and fruit. This species is known for its agility and can often be spotted hopping among branches and leaves. It communicates with a variety of calls and songs, which are typically melodious and varied.
Breeding: The breeding behavior of the Gray-hooded Bush Tanager is not extensively documented, but like many tanagers, it likely builds cup-shaped nests. These nests are placed in shrubs or trees, where the female lays a small clutch of eggs. Both parents are involved in feeding and caring for the young.
Conservation status: The Gray-hooded Bush Tanager is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.
Distribution
The Gray-hooded Bush Tanager is found in the western, central, and eastern mountain ranges. It is a resident species, meaning it does not migrate and can be found in its preferred habitats year-round.
Taxonomy
The Gray-hooded Bush-tanager (subsp.) (Cnemoscopus (rubrirostris) rubrirostris)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Thraupidae
- Genus: Cnemoscopus
- Species: Cnemoscopus rubrirostris
- Subspecie: rubrirostris
Vocalization
The Gray-hooded Bush Tanager has a variety of vocalizations that it uses for communication, including calls and trills. The calls are described as sharp and metallic and used for communication between individuals in dense forest environments where visibility is limited.
The trills of this species are more musical and can be part of their song repertoire. These trills may serve various purposes, such as attracting mates or establishing territory. The song is a series of rapid notes that can vary in pitch and rhythm.
If you are interested in hearing these vocalizations, you might find recordings on birding websites or apps like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library or Xeno-canto.
