Photo: Thibaud Aronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Maranon Gnatcatcher
Polioptila maior
Maranon Gnatcatcher (Polioptila maior) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
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The Maranon Gnatcatcher (Polioptila maior) is a member of the Polioptilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 6.4 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 Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers
- Genus Polioptila
- Species maior
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.4 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Polioptilidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Maranon Gnatcatcher 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 spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Maranon Gnatcatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Maranon Gnatcatcher (Polioptila maior) is a member of the Polioptilidae family, within the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA n Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 6.4 g, with a wing length of about 4.7 cm and a tail of around 4.4 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 52,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Maranon Gnatcatcher?
The Maranon Gnatcatcher is a very small bird that weighs around 6.4 g.
Where does the Maranon Gnatcatcher live?
The Maranon Gnatcatcher is found across South America with a range covering SA n Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Maranon Gnatcatcher belong to?
The Maranon Gnatcatcher (Polioptila maior) belongs to the Polioptilidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Maranon Gnatcatcher eat?
The Maranon Gnatcatcher is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Maranon Gnatcatcher migrate?
The Maranon Gnatcatcher is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Maranon Gnatcatcher endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Maranon Gnatcatcher's range?
The Maranon Gnatcatcher has a mapped global range of about 52,000 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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