Mérida wren

The Mérida wren (Cistothorus meridae), or paramo wren, is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is endemic to Venezuela.[2]

Mérida wren
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Troglodytidae
Genus: Cistothorus
Species:
C. meridae
Binomial name
Cistothorus meridae
Hellmayr, 1907

Taxonomy and systematics

The Mérida wren is monotypic.[2] Apolinar's wren (C. apolinari), grass wren (C. platensis), and it form a superspecies.[3]

Description

The Mérida wren is 10 cm (3.9 in) long. Adults have a medium brown crown and nape with darker brown streaks, blackish brown shoulders and upper back with off-white streaks, and a blackish and brown streaked rump. Their tail is medium brown with crisp black bars. They have an off-white supercilium that is wider to the rear, cheeks mottled with brown, and off-white chin and throat. Their chest is buffy and the flanks a darker buff.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The Mérida wren is found in the Andes of Venezuela from Trujillo south to northeastern Táchira. It inhabits wet páramo with scattered bushes at elevations between 3,000 and 4,100 m (9,800 and 13,500 ft). It is mostly sedentary but may move altitudinally and is thought to leave some areas during the rainy season.[4]

Behavior

Feeding

The Mérida wren forages low in the vegetation for arthropods; no details have been published.[4]

Breeding

Very little is known about the Mérida wren's breeding phenology. It is polygamous and uses "dormitory" nests for roosting but not breeding.[4]

Vocalization

The male Mérida wren has a repertoire of 20 to 25 songs that vary geographically and even among individuals in a region.[4] Some examples are , , and .

Status

The IUCN has assessed the Mérida wren as being of Least Concern.[1] "Despite its small global range, the harsh nature of its habitat does not invite much human interference. Some areas of its range are protected."[4]

References
  1. BirdLife International (2017). "Merida Wren Cistothorus meridae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  2. Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P. (January 2021). "IOC World Bird List (v 11.1)". Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  3. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 23 May 2021. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved May 24, 2021
  4. Kroodsma, D. E. and D. Brewer (2020). Merida Wren (Cistothorus meridae), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.merwre1.01 retrieved June 2, 2021
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