Red-eyed Thornbird - Phacellodomus eryrophthalmus ferrugineigula

Red-eyed Thornbird
(Phacellodomus eryrophthalmus ferrugineigula)

Intervales, São Paulo, Brazil
April 2004

The Red-eyed Thornbird is a Brazilian endemic distributed along the east coast of Brazil from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul. It is found in dense shrubs in woodland or round marshland.

There are two sub-species: the nominate found from south Bahia to north-east São Paulo; and P. e. ferrugineigula from south São Paulo to Rio Grande do Sul. They look quite different and may, in fact, be separate species.

These photos are of P. e. ferrugineigula and show the deep rufous crown, throat and breast as well as the rufous outer tail feathers. It also has a deep red iris.

The nominate sub-species has an orange iris, and deep rufous only on the forecrown and throat while the tail is entirely rufous.

Back to Index

If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page.