Apolinar's Wren

Apolinar's Wren
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Troglodytidae
Genus:	Cistothorus
Species:	C. apolinari
Binomial name
Cistothorus apolinari Chapman, 1914

The Apolinar's Wren (Cistothorus apolinari) is a passerine bird in the Troglodytidae family. It is endemic to the Andean areas of Colombia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland (between 2500 to 4000 metres altitude), freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss. Its Spanish common name is "Cucarachero de pantano" (lit: Swamp cockroach hunter).

This bird is small, (near 13 cm length) with brown head, gray patches around the eyes, streaked dark back and reddish tail.

Its singing is composed mainly of low notes, with a characteristic sound of "twii" and territorial calls sounding like "tchorr". The bird feeds on spiders and small insects. Usually it hides in swamps and reed fields with presence of espadaña plants (Typhaceae) and juncales (Scirpus californicus). The nesting seasons are in March and August.

References

• BirdLife International 2004. Cistothorus apolinari. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 July 2007.