Photo: Dario Sanches from São Paulo, Brazil / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-cheeked Gnateater
Conopophaga melanops
Black-cheeked Gnateater (Conopophaga melanops) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-cheeked Gnateater (Conopophaga melanops) is a member of the Conopophagidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 20.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Conopophagidae Gnateaters
- Genus Conopophaga
- Species melanops
Quick facts
- Weight
- 20.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Conopophagidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-cheeked Gnateater 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 Black-cheeked Gnateater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-cheeked Gnateater (Conopophaga melanops) is a member of the Conopophagidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA e, se Brazil.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 20.1 g, with a wing length of about 6.5 cm and a tail of around 2.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 243,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-cheeked Gnateater?
The Black-cheeked Gnateater is a small bird that weighs around 20.1 g.
Where does the Black-cheeked Gnateater live?
The Black-cheeked Gnateater is found across South America with a range covering SA e, se Brazil, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-cheeked Gnateater belong to?
The Black-cheeked Gnateater (Conopophaga melanops) belongs to the Conopophagidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-cheeked Gnateater eat?
The Black-cheeked Gnateater is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-cheeked Gnateater migrate?
The Black-cheeked Gnateater is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-cheeked Gnateater endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-cheeked Gnateater make?
1 real field recording of the Black-cheeked Gnateater — 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 Black-cheeked Gnateater's range?
The Black-cheeked Gnateater has a mapped global range of about 243,000 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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