Brown cacholote

Pseudoseisura lophotes

Photo by Jorge San Pedro (Foto Natura)

Common name:
brown cacholote (en); coperete (pt); cacholote brun (fr); cacholote castaño (es); dunkelbrauner cachalote (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Furnariidae

Range:
This species is found in southern South America, from southern Bolivia, through Paraguay and Uruguay, and down to central Argentina. They are also found in extreme southern Brazil, in Rio Grande do Sul.

Size:
These bird are 24-26 cm long and weigh 65-90 g.

Habitat:
The brown cacholote is mostly found in dry tropical forests, but also in moist forests, moist savannas, second growths and within urban areas. They occur from sea level up to an altitude of 900 m.

Diet:
They mainly feed on larval and adult insects, especially beetles and large ants, but also the eggs of other birds, seeds and fruits.

Breeding:
Brown cacholotes breed in October-February. They build a large, bulky nest, made of sticks and lined with plant materials, twigs and dung. The nest is placed in an horizontal branch, 4-6 m above the ground. The female lays 2-4 white eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 18-20 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 18-23 days after hatching. After hatching the chicks remain in the parental territory for up to 1 year.

Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.