Phacellodomus ruber
The Greater Thornbird, Phacellodomus ruber, is a prominent member of the Furnariidae family, often referred to as the 'Ovenbirds' due to their intricate nesting habits. This robust passerine measures approximately 19-20 cm (7.5-8 inches) in length and weighs between 29-39 grams, making it one of the larger thornbirds. Its plumage is strikingly rufous (reddish-brown) across the head, back, wings, and tail, contrasting with paler, often buffy or whitish underparts. A key field mark is its disti...
Found primarily in semi-open woodlands, chaco, dry scrubland, gallery forest edges, and thorny thickets, often in proximity to rivers or wetlands. It typically inhabits low to mid-elevations, generally below 800 meters.
The diet of the Greater Thornbird consists predominantly of insects, including various beetles, ants, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. It primarily forages by gleaning prey from vegetation and tree bark.
Greater Thornbirds are typically observed in pairs or small family groups, actively foraging throughout the day. They exhibit a rather active foraging strategy, primarily gleaning insects from the foliage and bark of trees and shrubs, occasionally making short aerial sallies to catch flying prey....
The Greater Thornbird is a resident species, with its distribution centered across central and eastern South America, showing no significant migratory movements. Its breeding range extends through vast areas of Brazil, particularly in the states of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Mina...
Least Concern
- The Greater Thornbird's nest can reach impressive lengths, sometimes exceeding 2 meters (6.5 feet), making it one of the largest avian nests relative to the bird's size. - These massive nests are often constructed from thorny sticks, providing excellent protection against predators like snakes ...