Photo: William Swainson (1789-1855) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Slaty Bristlefront
Merulaxis ater
Slaty Bristlefront (Merulaxis ater) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
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The Slaty Bristlefront (Merulaxis ater) is a member of the Rhinocryptidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 35 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 Rhinocryptidae Tapaculos
- Genus Merulaxis
- Species ater
Quick facts
- Weight
- 35 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Rhinocryptidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Slaty Bristlefront is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Slaty Bristlefront is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Slaty Bristlefront (Merulaxis ater) is a species of bird in the Rhinocryptidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA se Brazil.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 35 g, with a wing length of about 6.6 cm and a tail of around 8.3 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 164,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Slaty Bristlefront?
The Slaty Bristlefront is a small bird that weighs around 35 g.
Where does the Slaty Bristlefront live?
The Slaty Bristlefront is found across South America with a range covering SA se Brazil, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Slaty Bristlefront belong to?
The Slaty Bristlefront (Merulaxis ater) belongs to the Rhinocryptidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Slaty Bristlefront eat?
The Slaty Bristlefront is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Slaty Bristlefront migrate?
The Slaty Bristlefront is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Slaty Bristlefront 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 Slaty Bristlefront make?
1 real field recording of the Slaty Bristlefront — 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 Slaty Bristlefront's range?
The Slaty Bristlefront has a mapped global range of about 164,000 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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