Howdy, friends. This week we are continuing our occasional survey of South American contingas, with our new subject, the white-tipped plantcutter. Our new little friend weighs merely 30 to 57 g (1.1 to 2.0 oz) and is18 to 19.5 cm (7.1 to 7.7 in) long. The plantcutter is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, with vagrants observed in Brazil and Chile. It has the southernmost range of the continga family.
The white-tipped plantcutter lives in a variety of environments, most of which are open. Ya got yer woodlands, lowlands, scrublands, both montane and regular, as well as thickets of trees found on riverbanks. It also lives in South American plains called Pampas, which are generally low in elevation and from the pictures I was able to find, really, really flat. They look like prairies in the midwestern US. It appears to be at least somewhat comfortable with people, since it is also found in gardens and orchards. Here the bird uses its conical, serrated beak to eat fruits, shoots, leaves and buds. It usually looks for food alone or in pairs, but has been also observed forming flocks of as many as 100 individuals. The plantcutter plays an important ecological role by pruning leaves and dispersing seeds, and does not appear to be considered a pest in any of its range.
The plantcutter builds a nest of twigs up to 4 m (13 ft) in the air, where it may raise two broods during the breeding season from September to February. The female will incubate the eggs alone, but both parents will gather food for the chicks and tend to them once they hatch.
The white-tipped plantcutter is rated “of least concern” by the IUCN. It has a large range, and although the population is thought to be decreasing, it is not doing so dramatically enough to affect this ranking. It is sometimes referred to as ubiquitous throughout its range, so it seems like its doing ok. Have a good weekend, everyone. Be kind to yourselves and others.
Links: https://tinyurl.com/2s3hs3m7, https://tinyurl.com/ytnmfwt6, https://birdingpuertomadryn.com/species/white-tipped-plantcutter/, https://tinyurl.com/2p8zyme, https://tinyurl.com/5csjp4ec, https://tinyurl.com/3u8m6x7z
