Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols










What the Greater Thornbird sounds like

ID tip
The greater thornbird is 19 to 21 cm (7.5 to 8.3 in) long and weighs about 35 to 51 g (1.2 to 1.8 oz). It is heaviest and reddest thornbird. The sexes have the same plumage. Adults have a mostly rufescent brown to grayish brown face with a paler supercilium and ear coverts and a whitish malar area. Their crown is reddish chestnut with pale streaks, their back rich reddish brown to olive-brown that sometimes becomes chestnut on the lower back, their rump a lighter rufescent brown, and their uppertail coverts chestnut. Voice: The greater thornbird's song is a "series of up to 20 loud, sharp, resounding notes, starting very high and explosive, thereafter slightly accelerating and gradually descending". Rendered in words it is "poo tew tew tew too too tootootoochoochew". Pairs often sing in duet. Its calls include a "loud, high 'djeub-djeb-djebdjed' " and "sharp 'check check' and 'chweet'.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Greater Thornbird
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Greater Thornbird
The map shades 5 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Greater Thornbird
The greater thornbird is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Freckle-breasted ThornbirdPhacellodomus striaticollisThe spot-breasted thornbird is 16 to 20 cm (6.3 to 7.9 in) long and weighs about 24 to 27 g (0.85 to 0.95 oz).
Rufous-fronted ThornbirdPhacellodomus rufifronsThe rufous-fronted thornbird is 16 to 17 cm (6.3 to 6.7 in) long and weighs about 18 to 31 g (0.63 to 1.1 oz).
Side by side: Freckle-breasted Thornbird vs Greater Thornbird · Greater Thornbird vs Rufous-fronted Thornbird · Greater Thornbird vs Plain Thornbird
Learn the Greater Thornbird in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.