Slaty Bristlefront
Merulaxis ater
The Slaty Bristlefront (Merulaxis ater) is a rare tapaculo found only in Brazil, weighing about 35 g. The slaty bristlefront is a member of the Neotropical bird family Rhinocryptidae, the tapaculos.
About the Slaty Bristlefront
The slaty bristlefront is a member of the Neotropical bird family Rhinocryptidae, the tapaculos. It is endemic to south-east Brazil.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The slaty bristlefront is 18.5 cm (7.3 in) long. A male weighed 37.2 g (1.31 oz) and a female 33 g (1.2 oz). The male is mostly dark blue gray. The lower back is dark brown and the flanks, vent, and tail are black. The female is over all shades of brown, lighter on the throat and breast. Both sexes have a crest of short stiff feathers that stand erect at the base of the bill and forehead. Voice: The slaty bristlefront begins its song with a series of clicks followed by a trill described as "hysterical laughter". It has several calls, described as "tsewk-tsewk, pit", "keekick", and "he-he-heeheeheehee".
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Slaty Bristlefront?
- The slaty bristlefront is 18.5 cm (7.3 in) long. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Slaty Bristlefront?
- The Slaty Bristlefront is a small sized bird weighing about 35 g.
- Where can you see a Slaty Bristlefront?
- The Slaty Bristlefront is endemic to Brazil, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Slaty Bristlefront?
- The Slaty Bristlefront is most easily confused with the Stresemann's Bristlefront.
- Is the Slaty Bristlefront endangered?
- The Slaty Bristlefront is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Slaty Bristlefront for real
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