Clibanornis erythrocephalus
The Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, *Clibanornis erythrocephalus*, is a striking member of the Ovenbird family (Furnariidae), a diverse group renowned for their intricate nesting architectures. This medium-sized passerine, typically measuring 18-20 cm in length, is instantly recognizable by its vivid rufous or "henna-colored" head, nape, and throat, which sharply contrast with its olive-brown back and wings. Its underparts transition to a dull olive-grey, becoming paler towards the belly, and a...
This species exclusively inhabits humid, mossy montane evergreen forests and cloud forests, often with dense undergrowth and abundant epiphytes. It typically occurs at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 2,500 meters above sea level.
Its diet consists primarily of insects, including beetles, larvae, and other arthropods, which it expertly gleans from dense vegetation and mossy surfaces.
The Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner is generally observed as a solitary bird or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species foraging flocks alongside other ovenbirds, woodcreepers, and tanagers. It exhibits a methodical foraging strategy, meticulously gleaning insects and other arthropods from dens...
The Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner is endemic to the humid montane forests of the northern Andes, with a disjunct distribution across specific regions of Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. In Colombia, it is found along both the western and central Andes, primarily in departments such as Antioqu...
Least Concern
- The "Henna-hood" is the most striking field mark, making it one of the most vividly colored of the true foliage-gleaners. - Its scientific name, *erythrocephalus*, literally translates to "red-headed" from Greek, a direct nod to its most prominent feature. - Unlike many of its Furnariid relativ...