Automolus melanopezus
The Brown-rumped Foliage-gleaner (Automolus melanopezus) is a rather secretive and engaging member of the Furnariidae family, endemic to the humid lowland forests of northern South America. Measuring approximately 18 cm (7.1 in) in length and weighing 30-35 grams, its plumage is predominantly a muted olive-brown, making it blend seamlessly into its dense arboreal habitat. Its most distinctive field mark, true to its name, is a contrasting rufous-brown rump, which stands out against its darker...
Primary evergreen tropical lowland forest, often near water sources, and sometimes in adjacent secondary growth. Found in the understory and mid-story, typically below 800 meters (2,600 feet) elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of arthropods including beetles, crickets, spiders, and their larvae. Forages by gleaning, probing, and tearing at bark and dead leaves.
This diurnal species is typically observed alone or in pairs, rarely joining larger mixed-species flocks for extended periods. It is highly active, constantly moving through the dense understory and mid-story, foraging with an acrobatic grace. Its primary foraging strategy involves meticulously g...
The Brown-rumped Foliage-gleaner has a disjunct distribution across northern South America. One population spans from eastern Colombia (east of the Andes) through eastern Ecuador and northeastern Peru, extending south to northern Bolivia. A separate, eastern population is found in northern Brazil...
Least Concern
- Despite its common name emphasizing the brown rump, its scientific epithet 'melanopezus' actually translates to 'dark-footed' from Greek, a curious etymological detail! - It belongs to the Furnariidae family, also known as 'ovenbirds,' a diverse group named for the elaborate, dome-shaped nests ...