Chestnut-crowned Gnateater (Conopophaga castaneiceps)

Identification & Behavior: ~13 cm (5.2 in). The male Chestnut-crowned Gnateater has dark brown upperparts and slaty-gray underparts but look uniformly dark. The forehead is chestnut and grades to a chestnut-brown crown. It has a long white post ocular stripe/tuft. The female has brown upperparts and grayish belly. The forehead, throat, and upper breast are chestnut. It has a broad white post ocular stripe/tuft. Gnateaters have a roundish body with a short tail and long legs. It forages on or near the ground in humid montane forest. The male is similar to a female Slaty Gnateater. These two gnateater have only limited overlap in Cuzco.

Status: The Chestnut-crowned Gnateater is uncommon in montane forests on the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 1000-2200 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Jejenero de Faja Castaña.

Sub-species: Chestnut-belted Gnateater (Conopophaga aurita occidentalis), C. Chubb, 1917.  NE Ecuador and NE Peru (E of R Napo).
(Conopophaga aurita australis), Todd, 1927.  S of R Amazon from NE Peru (S to Ucayali) to W Brazil (E to R Madeira, S to N Acre and N Rondônia); population E of R Madeira in NW Rondônia provisionally placed here.

Meaning of Name: Conopophaga: Gr. konops, konopos= gnat and phagos, phagein= eating, to eat. castaneiceps: Gr. kastanon= chestnut and ceps, caput= headed, capitis.

Go to the Family Conopophagidae