Photo: Djringer / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Orinoco Softtail
Thripophaga cherriei
Orinoco Softtail (Thripophaga cherriei) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Orinoco Softtail (Thripophaga cherriei) is a member of the Furnariidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 12.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Furnariidae Ovenbirds
- Genus Thripophaga
- Species cherriei
Quick facts
- Weight
- 12.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Orinoco Softtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Orinoco Softtail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Orinoco Softtail (Thripophaga cherriei) is a species of bird in the Furnariidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA sc Venezuela.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 12.8 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 6.8 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Orinoco Softtail?
The Orinoco Softtail is a very small bird that weighs around 12.8 g.
Where does the Orinoco Softtail live?
The Orinoco Softtail is found across South America with a range covering SA sc Venezuela, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Orinoco Softtail belong to?
The Orinoco Softtail (Thripophaga cherriei) belongs to the Furnariidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Orinoco Softtail eat?
The Orinoco Softtail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Orinoco Softtail migrate?
The Orinoco Softtail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Orinoco Softtail endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Orinoco Softtail make?
1 real field recording of the Orinoco Softtail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Orinoco Softtail's range?
The Orinoco Softtail has a mapped global range of about 10 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Furnariidae
A field guide to the Furnariidae family — 321 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.