Iquitos gnatcatcher
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Polioptila clementsi

The Iquitos gnatcatcher (Polioptila clementsi ) is a bird in the family Polioptilidae. It was first described in 2005. It is known only from the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, west of Iquitos, Peru.

Appearance

All of the specimens of Iquitos gnatcatcher have been immature, so the adult plumage has not been formally described. However, observations of apparent adults showed no differences from that of the immatures. The immatures were 11 cm (4.3 in) long and weighed 5 to 6 g (0.18 to 0.21 oz). The male's entire upper side from crown to rump is dark gray. It has a narrow, broken, white eye ring. Its throat and breast are medium gray and the belly white. The innermost feathers of its tail are black and the outermost approximately 80% white, with those between intergrading.

Distribution

Geography

The only known population of the Iquitos gnatcatcher is the Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve, west of Iquitos, Peru. The reserve is "on border of ecoregions characterized as Napo moist forest and Iquitos várzea. The elevation there is 150 m (490 ft).

Iquitos gnatcatcher habitat map

Biome

Iquitos gnatcatcher habitat map
Iquitos gnatcatcher
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Diet and Nutrition

The Iquitos gnatcatcher's diet is not well known, but is assumed to be insects like that of other Polioptila gnatcatchers. It actively forages in the upper quarter of trees with mixed-species flocks, usually gleaning from the ends of branches and sometimes sallying out to catch flying insects.

Mating Habits

"The nest, eggs, and breeding behavior of Iquitos Gnatcatcher remain undescribed."

Population

Population number

Because BLI does not recognize the Iquitos gnatcatcher as a species, the IUCN has not assessed its status separately from that of the Guianan gnatcatcher complex. Its entire known range is approximately 2,000 ha (7.7 sq mi), and logging is permitted there. Its population is fewer than 250 mature individuals. Those data and "continuing loss of apparently specialized white-sand forest habitat" meet the IUCN criteria for Critically Endangered status.

References

1. Iquitos gnatcatcher Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iquitos_gnatcatcher
2. Iquitos gnatcatcher on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/106020330/132203190

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