Pseudoseisura unirufa
The Grey-crested Cacholote, *Pseudoseisura unirufa*, is a striking member of the Furnariidae family, known for its distinctive appearance and vocalizations across the drylands of South America. This medium-sized passerine, typically measuring 20-23 cm (8-9 inches) in length and weighing around 40-50 grams, is characterized by its prominent, shaggy grey crest that gives the species its common name. Its plumage is predominantly rufous-brown, with a paler, often buffy throat and belly, providing...
It primarily inhabits dry deciduous woodlands, thorny scrub, gallery forest edges, and semi-arid Caatinga and Cerrado biomes, typically found at low to moderate elevations up to 1,000 meters.
Their diet consists primarily of arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and other insects, which they forage for by gleaning and probing in vegetation and bark.
Grey-crested Cacholotes are diurnal and often observed singly or in pairs, rarely joining mixed-species flocks. They spend much of their day foraging actively in the understory and mid-story, gleaning insects from bark crevices, dense foliage, and dead wood. They are highly territorial, defending...
The Grey-crested Cacholote is endemic to South America, with its primary distribution centered in the interior of Brazil and extending into adjacent parts of Bolivia and Paraguay. In Brazil, its range spans across the northeastern, central-western, and southeastern regions, predominantly within t...
Least Concern
- The Grey-crested Cacholote builds one of the largest and most robust stick nests among South American passerines, often resembling a small, thorny fortress. - Its nests, often used for multiple breeding seasons, are so substantial that they are sometimes utilized by other bird species or even s...