| Stresemann's bristlefront | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Rhinocryptidae |
| Genus: | Merulaxis |
| Species: | M. stresemanni |
| Binomial name | |
| Merulaxis stresemanni Sick, 1960 | |
The Stresemann's bristlefront (Merulaxis stresemanni) is a critically endangered species of bird in the family Rhinocryptidae. It is endemic to Brazil.
Description
The Stressemanns bristlefront is commonly known as the rarest bird on earth. This is a medium-sized, long-tailed bird with distinctive forehead bristles. It measures 20 cm (7.9 in). The male is all slaty-plumbeous with dark rufous-chestnut rump, uppertail-coverts and vent. The namesake features are long, pointed bristles on the forehead. The female is cinnamon-brown above, with a duskier tail, and bright cinnamon-rufous below.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The birds' natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss, and the Mata do Passarinho Reserve is the last known area to house Stresemann's bristlefront. Since an extensive search performed in 2019, it is hypothesized that only a single member remains, according to the American Bird Conservancy. The Atlantic forest reserve is in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia and contains primary forest as well as secondary forest, and is an island of forest surrounded by farmland.[3]
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2013). "Merulaxis stresemanni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- ^ BirdLife species factsheet for Merulaxis stresemanni
- ^ "Expansion of Brazilian reserve protects some of the world's rarest birds". Birdguides. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
External links
- Stresemann's bristlefront (Merulaxis stresemanni) media from ARKive
- "Merulaxis stresemanni". Avibase.
- "Stresemann's bristlefront media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Stresemann's bristlefront species account at Neotropical Birds (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
- Interactive range map of Merulaxis stresemanni at IUCN Red List maps
- Audio recordings of Stresemann's bristlefront on Xeno-canto.
