The Recurve-billed Bushbirds (Clytoctantes alixii) are a Thamnophilid Antbird that inhabits dense stands of secondary vegetation at the northern end of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela. It inhabits well-developed secondary growth at 150-1750 m.
Until recently, the bird was almost unknown in life: apart from earlier specimens, it had been seen only once at an army ant swarm in Colombia in 1965 (1,2). A significant effort in Colombia failed to find the bird. However, in April 2004, the species was found in Venezuela in the foothills of Sierra de Perijá close to the border with Colombia (3, 4), during a Conservation International-financed Rapid Assessment (RAP) expedition consisting of ornithologists Miguel Lentino, Jorge Perez-Eman, Irving Carreño and Chris Sharpe working under the auspices of the Venezuela Audubon Society and the Phelps Ornithological Collection. The first photographs were taken of a pair of birds. Four months later, the first sound recordings were made and behavioural notes were taken by British ornithologist Chris Sharpe.
Working in parallel, Colombian ornithology student Oscar Laverde found Bushbirds in Norte de Santander, Colombia, in July 2005. The birds were subsequently studied in detail by Laverde, F. Gary Stiles, and ornithology students of the Natural Sciences Institute of the National University of Colombia. Their findings are published in issue No. 5 of Ornitología Colombiana.
Description
The Bushbird is 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) long and unmistakable. It is named for its extraordinary bill, which curves upwards. The male is slate grey, the female rufescent brown.
Diet / Feeding
The Bushbird with Recurved Bill is an insectivore, which means it is entirely dependent on insects for its diet. Its strong association with the bamboo forest is what makes it so fascinating. Recurve-billed Bushbirds are not like other birds that flit around a variety of plants and trees. They seem to prefer dense bamboo thickets where they carefully search for hidden insect prey. The bird’s curved bill helps it to get into tight places, remove dead bamboo stems and find insects that other birds may overlook.
There have been a few rare observations that have given us some clues. A bushbird was spotted attending an army-ant swarm. This is a tactic that some insect-eating birds use to catch insects fleeing from ants. A bushbird was seen tearing apart dried bamboo strands in search of something tasty. These glimpses at its diet demonstrate how adaptable and resourceful it is in its bamboo environment. Birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts will find it a thrill to see the Recurve-billed Bushbird at work. It’s an opportunity to get a glimpse into the life of this mysterious South American bamboo specialist. According to eBird, this species is well documented.
Songs / Calls
The Recurve Billed Bushbird is one of the most mysterious birds when it comes to vocalisations. One recorded call provides a hint as to what the secretive bird’s sound is. A female bird was heard in Colombia making a chirring noise that has been described as “ke’ee’ew”. It is a soft, but unsettling sound that sounds similar to the speckled Antshrike. Birdwatchers may find this call useful in locating the birds hiding in dense undergrowth. According to BirdLife International, this species is well documented.
Every vocalisation is important because the Recurve Billed Bushbird is rarely heard or seen. Birders and researchers are encouraged to listen carefully when in bamboo-rich regions of northern South America. A faint call from the undergrowth could be your only clue that this shy bird is nearby. Patience is key for those who want to study or record their voice. As we learn more about its communication and calls, we will be able to better understand its behaviour, territory, and courtship rituals. The Recurve-billed Bushbird’s rare call is one of the most elusive sounds in the neotropical forest.
Conservation Status
The outlook for the Recurve-billed Bushbirds in the foothills of Sierra de Perijá in Venezuela seems positive, and certainly much better than scientists had guessed before 2004. The bird appears to be not uncommon in regenerating swidden (“slash-and-burn”) plots.
A significant area of extremely important, uninhabited primary forest is being rapidly invaded in the foothills of this range, where the forest is being felled to plant short-term cash crops. There appears to be little attempt to control or regulate illegal deforestation there by the Venezuelan government and local political support for the invasion. Despite the long-term consequences for the survival of the forest and its species, in the short term, this may lead to the creation of further Bushbird habitat.
The Bushbird should now be looked for in a suitable area elsewhere. Sierra de Perijá is one of the top conservation priorities for birds in Venezuela, not just for this species but for several other threatened birds.
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