Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rufous Twistwing
Cnipodectes superrufus
Rufous Twistwing (Cnipodectes superrufus) — 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 Rufous Twistwing (Cnipodectes superrufus) is a member of the Tyrannidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 32.3 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 Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura
- Genus Cnipodectes
- Species superrufus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 32.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Tyrannidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rufous Twistwing 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 Rufous Twistwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rufous Twistwing (Cnipodectes superrufus) is a species of bird in the Tyrannidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA se Peru and nw Bolivia.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 32.3 g, with a wing length of about 11.7 cm and a tail of around 11.2 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.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 245,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rufous Twistwing?
The Rufous Twistwing is a small bird that weighs around 32.3 g.
Where does the Rufous Twistwing live?
The Rufous Twistwing is found across South America with a range covering SA se Peru and nw Bolivia, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Rufous Twistwing belong to?
The Rufous Twistwing (Cnipodectes superrufus) belongs to the Tyrannidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rufous Twistwing eat?
The Rufous Twistwing is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rufous Twistwing migrate?
The Rufous Twistwing is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rufous Twistwing 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 Rufous Twistwing make?
1 real field recording of the Rufous Twistwing — 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 Rufous Twistwing's range?
The Rufous Twistwing has a mapped global range of about 245,000 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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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 Tyrannidae
A field guide to the Tyrannidae family — 444 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.