- Long-billed Gnatwren
Taxobox
name = Long-billed Gnatwren
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Passeriformes
familia = Polioptilidae
genus = "Ramphocaenus"
species = "R. melanurus"
binomial = "Ramphocaenus melanurus"
binomial_authority = (Vieillot,1819 )The Long-billed Gnatwren, "Ramphocaenus melanurus", is a very small
bird in thegnatcatcher family. It is the only member of the genus "Ramphocaenus" (Vieillot,1819 ).It is found in the undergrowth and vines of dry forest and secondary woodland from
Mexico south toPeru andBrazil , and onTrinidad .Long-billed Gnatwrens build a deep cup nest very low in a small plant or sapling. The two white eggs are incuated by both parents for 16-17 days to hatching, with a further 11-12 days to fledging.
Adult Long-billed Gnatwrens are 10.9cm long and weigh 10.3g. They have a long thin bill and a short cocked tail. The upperparts are grey-brown, with rufous on the sides of the head. The throat is white, shading to buff on the rest of the underparts. The tail is black with white tips to all but the central feathers, and is frequently wagged.
"R. m. trinitatis", of eastern
Colombia ,Venezuela andTrinidad has paler underparts, and buff flanks and head sides.Long-billed Gnatwrens forage actively in vegetation, eating mainly insects, insect eggs and
spider s. The call is a trilled "drdrdrdrdrdrdrdrdrdr". This unmistakable bird usually occurs in pairs or family groups.References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* "Birds of Venezuela" by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
*cite book
last = ffrench
first = Richard
title = A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
edition = 2nd edition
year = 1991
publisher = Comstock Publishing
isbn = 0-8014-9792-2External links
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=6403 Long-billed Gnatwren videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=long-billed+gnatwren&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Long-billed Gnatwren photo gallery] VIREO
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