Grey-throated Leaftosser

The grey-throated leaftosser, a member of the ovenbird family Furnariidae, is a bird of considerable charm. It is one of the larger species within the genus Sclerurus, measuring between 16 to 18 cm in length and weighing between 34 to 46 grams. Both sexes share a similar plumage, characterized by a grayish brown face with a scaly appearance, a crown and back of rich chestnut-brown, and a rump and uppertail coverts of a brighter reddish chestnut. The bird's flight feathers are a deep brown, while its tail is a dark gray-brown. The throat is a grayish white with a darker lower edge, and the breast is a dark rufous with pale streaks. The belly is dark brown, flanks and undertail coverts are a richer brown, and the eyes are dark brown to brown. The maxilla is black to dark gray, the mandible pale grayish white to yellowish, and the legs and feet are black to brown.

Identification Tips

When identifying the grey-throated leaftosser, look for its distinctive scaly face and the contrast between its grayish white throat and darker lower edge. The rich chestnut-brown of the back and the brighter reddish chestnut of the rump are also key features. Juveniles are overall duller and have some dusky scaling on the throat.

Habitat

This species favors evergreen forests, typically in foothills and lower montane areas. Its habitat range varies, from sea level in the northeastern part of its range to strictly lowland areas in Brazil, and between 600 and 1,500 meters in elevation in Costa Rica.

Distribution

The grey-throated leaftosser has a disjunct distribution across several countries, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela.

Behaviour

The grey-throated leaftosser is a year-round resident in its range, known for foraging mostly on the ground. It flips aside leaves, probes the ground, and gleans from it and leaf litter, hopping rather than walking. It typically forages alone or in pairs and does not join mixed-species foraging flocks.

Song & calls

The song of the grey-throated leaftosser is a series of tripled rising notes, sometimes including musical trills. It also has an alarm call that is a squeaky, sharp "cheek" or "chik-chik."

Breeding

Breeding season for this bird includes October to May in Trinidad and at least May and June in Colombia, with other regions' seasons undocumented. The species is assumed to be monogamous, nesting in a burrow with a leaf cup at the end. Clutch size is typically two eggs.

Similar Species

The grey-throated leaftosser is closely related to the rufous-breasted leaftosser, with which it shares a sister species relationship.

Diet and Feeding

Its diet includes beetles, spiders, cockroaches, and tiny frogs, which it forages for by flipping aside leaves and probing the ground.

Conservation status

The IUCN has rated the grey-throated leaftosser as Near Threatened due to its susceptibility to forest fragmentation and disturbance. Deforestation is the principal threat to this species, which is considered rare to locally uncommon, though it is fairly common in some parts of Venezuela and is present in several protected areas.