Des Mur’s Wire-Tail

Colilarga

Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii

Length: 246mm. Sexes alike. Bill brown with base of mandible pearl; iris dark brown; upper part of head, hind neck, above, lower back and rump cinnamon brown slightly rufous on the forehead. Eyebrow pale cinnamon, auriculars cinnamon brown; throat, foreneck, breast and abdomen pale cinnamon brown, flanks as back. Wing coverts cinnamon brown, remiges greyish brown with feathers margined cinnamon brown on outer vexillum. Tail with only six feathers, two very short ones, two medium long and two very long ones, in all cases with rigid rachis and short cinnamon brown barbs. Legs cinnamon pearl colour. Weight: 11g. The female is slightly smaller than the male, 220mm long and it weighs 10g. Juveniles are similar to adults. Habitat and behaviour: it frequents thick vegetation, especially the understory, formed by Colihue cane (Chusquea culeou), one of this singular bird’s favourite environments. Also found in thickets of the Pitra or Patagua species (Myrceugenia exsucca). Its weak contact call and its habit of moving deftly and swiftly make this bird difficult to observe, in spite of being tame. Almost always found in pairs, in autumn small scattered groups may be seen dashing through the thickets. Occasionally it is found in bulrushes and reed stands. It also forages in trees such as the Maitén (Maitenus boaria). Not an abundant species. Due to its coloration and very long tail it is not likely to be confused. When it flies it always does so for short stretches, from one thicket to another. It nests in the dense vegetation, the nest consisting of a sphere-shaped structure of grass. Clutch size is up to three white eggs. Range: from Neuquén to Santa Cruz, within the stretch of the subantarctic forest and adjacent areas.

Illustrated Handbook of the Birds of Patagonia

Kindless: Kovacs Family