Curve-billed reedhaunter (Limnornis curvirostris)

Description

Curve-billed reedhaunter fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Curve-billed reedhaunter description

First collected by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle ⁽³⁾, the curve-billed reedhaunter is a relatively plain-coloured bird with, as the common name suggests, a long, downward-curving beak ^{(2) (4)}. The body is relatively robust, with a fairly long, rounded tail ⁽⁵⁾. The upperparts are brown, more reddish-brown on the wings, rump and tail, with whitish underparts that are tinged buff on the lower breast and flanks, and a conspicuous white line above the eye ^{(2) (4)}. Males and females are similar in appearance ⁽²⁾. The distinctive loud song, often delivered from a relatively exposed vantage point, consists of a fast series of harsh notes that rise and then fall in pitch, fading towards the end ^{(2) (4)}. The call is described as a hollow took ⁽²⁾.

Although often previously treated, including by Darwin, as a close relative of the very similar-looking straight-billed reedhaunter (Limnoctites rectirostris), genetic analysis has now confirmed that the two species are not closely related ⁽⁵⁾.

Also known as

curve-billed reedrunner.

Size

Length: 15 - 17 cm ⁽²⁾

Weight

27 - 30 g ⁽²⁾

Curve-billed reedhaunter biology

Usually found alone or in pairs, the curve-billed reedhaunter is a difficult bird to see when not singing, as it typically creeps about amongst cover and rarely flies far ⁽⁴⁾. Food is gleaned from marsh vegetation and comprises various arthropods, such as ants, grasshoppers, beetles and larvae ⁽²⁾. Presumed to be monogamous, the curve-billed reedhaunter is thought to breed during the spring and summer, building a ball-shaped nest from woven grasses, leaves and fibres. The nest is reported to be attached to reeds or supported by vegetation, and the interior is lined with soft plant material. There is a side entrance, protected by a slight “awning” ⁽²⁾. Two eggs are laid ⁽²⁾, and, unusually for a species in the Furnariidae family, are a deep greenish-blue, rather than white ⁽⁵⁾.

Curve-billed reedhaunter range

The curve-billed reedhaunter occurs in southern Uruguay, eastern Argentina and the extreme southeast of Brazil ^{(2) (4) (6)}.

Curve-billed reedhaunter habitat

This species is confined to extensive reedbeds in freshwater marshes and coastal lagoons, below elevations of 100 metres ^{(2) (4) (5)}.

Curve-billed reedhaunter status

Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Curve-billed reedhaunter threats

The curve-billed reedhaunter still has a large range, and is believed to have a large global population ⁽⁶⁾. However, its conservation status is poorly known, and its specialised habitat requirements may make it potentially vulnerable to habitat loss or alteration ⁽²⁾.

Curve-billed reedhaunter conservation

The curve-billed reedhaunter occurs in a number of protected areas, including the Aparados da Serra National Park in Brazil, and Costanera Sur, Ingeniero Otamendi and Ribera Norte Reserves in Argentina ⁽²⁾. There are no known specific conservation measures in place for this species.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For more information on the curve-billed reedhaunter see:

• BirdLife International:
  http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=4931&m=0
• del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (2003) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 8: Broadbills to Tapaculos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

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Glossary

Arthropods

A very diverse phylum (a major grouping of animals) that includes crustaceans, insects and arachnids. All arthropods have paired jointed limbs and a hard external skeleton (exoskeleton).

Larvae

Stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.

Monogamous

Having only one mate during a breeding season, or throughout the breeding life of a pair.

References

1. IUCN Red List (June, 2009)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
2. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (2003) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 8: Broadbills to Tapaculos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
3. Gould, J. and Darwin, C.R. (1839) Birds Part 3 No. 3 of The Zoology of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle. Smith Elder and Co, London. Available at:
   http://darwin-online.org.uk/
4. Ridgely, R.S. and Tudor, G. (1994) The Birds of South America: The Suboscine Passerines. Volume II. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.
5. Olson, S.L., Irestedt, M., Ericson, P.G.P. and Fjeldså, J. (2005) Independent evolution of two Darwinian marsh-dwelling ovenbirds (Furnariidae: Limnornis, Limnoctites). Ornitologia Neotropical, 16: 347 - 359.
6. BirdLife International (June, 2009)
   http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=4931&m=0