Greater Thornbird

Phacellodomus ruber

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesShrublandDomed nestSmall · 41 g

What the Greater Thornbird sounds like

Sonogram of the Greater Thornbird: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Graznidos y gorjeos · Uncertain · Reserva Ribera Norte, Acassusso, San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina · CC0 · via xeno-canto

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

Regular range

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

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 Bird

Every 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.