Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith, Sylvia Qu, Myriam Velázquez and Alberto Esquivel and is used with their permission.
RUFOUS GNATEATER Conopophaga lineata ATLANTIC FOREST
Perched on a log in the darkness of the densest undergrowth is a podgy little bird with a big head, long legs and a short tail. With his exaggerated features and approachability he could easily be passed off as a fledgling fresh out of the nest, or perhaps even a miniature antpitta, but the thing that attracted you to him first, his bizarre call, verifies his identity as a Rufous Gnateater. This strange noise, which sounds like somebody sucking the inside of their teeth, is the origin of his colourful Paraguayan nickname “Chupadientes” (literally “tooth-sucker”). He is a fascinating little character, easily enticed out of hiding by imitating his call but otherwise passive and easy to overlook. On the ground he hops, and he sallies for flying insects from a concealed perch. Perhaps his most unusual feature though are the modified outer primaries of the male which, at night during the breeding season, can be used to make a loud buzzing noise in flight, a non-vocal sound that he can turn on and off, almost as if flicking a switch.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPAVE1579PH) Adult, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Sylvia Qu June 2008).
FIGURE 2 - (FPAVE1580PH) Adult, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Alberto Esquivel undated).
FIGURE 3 - (FPAVE1581PH) Same individual as (FPAVE1580PH) ventral view (Alberto Esquivel undated).
FIGURE 4 - (FPAVE1582PH) Same individual as (FPAVE1580PH) (Alberto Esquivel undated).
FIGURE 5 - (FPAVE1583PH) Adult, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith March 2007).
FIGURE 6 - (FPAVE1584PH) Adult male showing silver spot on rear of supercilium (usually hidden), PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith February 2007).
FIGURE 7 - (FPAVE1585PH) Adult female, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith February 2007).
FIGURE 8 - (FPAVE1588PH) Adult upperwing, Hotel Tirol, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith June 2005).
FIGURE 9 - (FPAVE1586PH) Juvenile, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith February 2007).
FIGURE 10 - (FPAVE1587PH) Same individual as (FPAVE1586PH) upperwing showing mottling on the nape and rump (Paul Smith February 2007).
VIDEO - (FPAVE1589VI) Adult, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith September 2010).
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Conopophaga lineata
1 (FPAVE1590RE) Toothsucking call recorded PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith March 2007).
2 (FPAVE1591RE) Antagonistic call recorded PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Paul Smith March 2007).
3 (FPAVE1592RE) Song recorded Mbaracayú Biosphere Reserve, Departamento Canindeyú (Paul Smith October 2008).
4 (FPAVE1593RE) Song recorded Hotel Tirol, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith November 2009).
5 (FPAVE1594RE) Mixed calls recorded Santa Ines, PN San Rafael, Departamento Itapúa (Myriam Velázquez June 2001).
6 (FPAVE1595RE) Mixed calls recorded Puerto Bertoni, Departamento Alto Paraná (Myriam Velázquez September 2000).
Click the link to hear the call. Longer versions of this call can be downloaded from the Paraguay page of our partner website www.xeno-canto.com - the largest collection of freely downloadable Neotropical bird calls available online.