Tail-banded hornero

Furnarius figulus

Photo by Celi Aurora (Flickr)

Common name:

tail-banded hornero (en); casaca-de-couro-da-lama (pt); fournier bridé (fr); hornero colibandeado (es); schwarzspitzentöpfer (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Passeriformes

Family Furnariidae

Range:

This species is endemic to Brazil. There are 2 distinct populations, one in eastern Brazil from Maranhão to south Bahia and extending into Espírito Santo, and another in east Amazonas, central Pará and the upper Rio Araguaia.

Size:

The tail-banded hornero is 16 cm long and weighs 34-37 g.

Habitat:

Their natural habitats include a wide range of wooded habitats, especially near water and around mudflats.

Diet:

These birds feed on invertebrates, including insects and other arthropods, as well as shellfish.

Breeding:

The tail-banded hornero breeds in February-September. They nest in a shallow oval cup made of dry grasses, cotton and other plant fibres, as well as feathers, and sometimes lined with pieces of plastic and paper. There the female lays 2 eggs which are incubated by both parents for about 20 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge about 22 days after hatching.

Conservation:

IUCN status – LC (Least concern)

Although the global population size has not been quantified, this species is described as fairly common over its very arge breeding range. This species undergone a range expansion over the last century, which is suspected to be continuing.