Black-tailed Leaftosser (Sclerurus caudacutus)

Identification & Behavior: ~17 cm (6.6 in). The Black-tailed Leaftosser is mostly rufous-brown with a whitish throat that contrasts with the rufous-brown on the breast and rest of the underparts. The tail is black, broad, and roundish. The bill is dusky. It forages on the ground of terra firme forests in Amazonia where it constantly picks and tosses dead leaves in search of prey items. It is very similar to the Gray-throated Leaftosser but is distinguished by having browner underparts and perhaps a less sharply defined whitish throat and by voice. The Gray-throated Leaftosser ranges at higher elevations on the east slope o the Andes but extends to the lowlands in southeast Peru where these two leaf tossers are likely to overlap.

Status: The Black-tailed Leaftosser is uncommon to rare but widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1000 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Tira-hoja de Cola Negra.

Sub-species: Black-tailed Leaftosser (Sclerurus caudacutus brunneus), P. L. Sclater, 1857.

Meaning of Name: Sclerurus: Gr. skleros= stiff and oura= tail. caudacutus: L. cauda= tail, acutus, acuere= sharp-pointed, to sharpen to a point.

See more of the Family Furnariidae