Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Greater Thornbird
Phacellodomus ruber
Greater Thornbird (Phacellodomus ruber) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Greater Thornbird (Phacellodomus ruber) is a member of the Furnariidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 41 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 Furnariidae Ovenbirds
- Genus Phacellodomus
- Species ruber
Quick facts
- Weight
- 41 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Furnariidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Greater Thornbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Greater Thornbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Greater Thornbird (Phacellodomus ruber) is a member of the Furnariidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA w Bolivia to c Brazil, Paraguay and n Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 41 g, with a wing length of about 7.3 cm and a tail of around 8.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greater Thornbird?
The Greater Thornbird is a small bird that weighs around 41 g.
Where does the Greater Thornbird live?
The Greater Thornbird is found across South America with a range covering SA w Bolivia to c Brazil, Paraguay and n Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Greater Thornbird belong to?
The Greater Thornbird (Phacellodomus ruber) belongs to the Furnariidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Greater Thornbird eat?
The Greater Thornbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Greater Thornbird migrate?
The Greater Thornbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Greater Thornbird 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 Greater Thornbird make?
1 real field recording of the Greater Thornbird — 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 Greater Thornbird's range?
The Greater Thornbird has a mapped global range of about 2.8 million 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.