Chestnut-backed Thornbird
Phacellodomus dorsalis
The Chestnut-backed Thornbird (Phacellodomus dorsalis) is a legendary ovenbirds and woodcreeper found only in Peru, weighing about 36 g. The chestnut-backed thornbird is a Near Threatened species of bird in the family Furnariidae.
About the Chestnut-backed Thornbird
The chestnut-backed thornbird is a Near Threatened species of bird in the family Furnariidae. It is endemic to Peru.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The chestnut-backed thornbird is 19 to 21 cm (7.5 to 8.3 in) long and weighs about 33 to 39 g (1.2 to 1.4 oz). It is the longest member of its genus and has the longest bill. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a light gray-brown supercilium that extends beyond the eye and spreads, a thin dark brownish "mask", and dull tawny brownish ear coverts. Their crown is dark gray-brown with dull rufous streaks, their upper back grayish brown blending to their chestnut lower back, their rump grayish brown, and their uppertail coverts reddish brown-tinged grayish brown. Voice: The chestnut-backed thornbird's song is a "series of ticking 'chit-chit-chit-chit-chit' notes given for long periods and varying in intensity, either alone or accelerating and breaking into a loud, even loudsong 'chup-chup-chupchupchupchuppppp' accelerating at the end".
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in August. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Chestnut-backed Thornbird?
- The chestnut-backed thornbird is 19 to 21 cm (7.5 to 8.3 in) long and weighs about 33 to 39 g (1.2 to 1.4 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Chestnut-backed Thornbird?
- The Chestnut-backed Thornbird is a small sized bird weighing about 36 g.
- Where can you see a Chestnut-backed Thornbird?
- The Chestnut-backed Thornbird is endemic to Peru, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Chestnut-backed Thornbird?
- The Chestnut-backed Thornbird is most easily confused with the Spot-breasted Thornbird, the Streak-fronted Thornbird and the Little Thornbird.
- Is the Chestnut-backed Thornbird endangered?
- The Chestnut-backed Thornbird is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
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