Picathartes

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Picathartes
Temporal range: Lutetian–Recent
White-necked rockfowl (P. gymnocephalus), Ghana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Infraorder:
Passerides
Family: Picathartidae
Lowe, 1938
Genus: Picathartes
Lesson
, 1828
Species

P. gymnocephalus

P. oreas

White-necked (pink) and grey-necked (green) rockfowl distribution
Synonyms

Galgulus Wagler, 1827 (non Brisson, 1760: preoccupied)

The picathartes, rockfowl, or bald crows are a small genus of two passerine bird species forming the family Picathartidae found in the rain-forests of tropical west and central Africa. They have unfeathered heads, and feed on insects and invertebrates picked from damp rocky areas. Both species are totally non-migratory, being dependent on a specialised rocky jungle habitat.[1] Both species are listed as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List.

Taxonomy and systematics

The taxonomic position of the

Timaliidae. Olson revived the idea that it was related to Eupetes in 1979.[3] A molecular sequence based study suggests that it may indeed be closely related to the crows and placed somewhere at the boundary between the Passerida and Corvida.[4] More specifically they appear to be a sister of the rockjumpers (Chaetops) and are basal to the clade containing the Sylvioidea, Passeroidea and Muscicapoidea but outside the core Corvoidea.[5]

This generic name comes from a combination of the Latin genera pica for "magpie" and cathartes for "vulture".[6]

Species

A possible third species may exist in Uganda, in the vicinity of the Kazinga Channel, linking Lake Edward with Lake George.[7]

Description

A 1902 illustration of the two species

The picathartes are large 33 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in) long passerines with crow-like black bills, long neck, tail, and legs. They weigh between 200 and 250 g (7.1 and 8.8 oz). The strong feet and grey legs are adapted to terrestrial movement, and the family progresses through the forest with long bounds on the ground. The wings are long but are seldom used for long flights. The plumage is similar between the two species, with white breasts and bellies and darker grey and grey-black wings, backs, and tails. The neck color varies between the two species, giving them their individual names (grey-necked and white-necked picathartes). They also have bald heads with brightly coloured and patterned skin.[1]

Behaviour and ecology

Rockfowl are generalised feeders, taking a wide range of invertebrate prey. Prey items include a range of insects, particularly

follow swarms of ants in order to snatch prey fleeing the ants.[1]

Both species of rockfowl breed seasonally in the

altricial at hatching, almost naked (a few feathers are present on the crown and back) and helpless. The chicks take around 25 days to fledge.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The rockfowl are distributed in West Africa and western Central Africa, in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana (white-necked rockfowl), Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic (grey-necked rockfowl). The rockfowl live in lowland rainforest at up to 800 m, in rocky and hilly terrain on the slopes of hills and mountains. These birds require forest litter for foraging, a large enough area to contain army-ant swarms (Dorylinae), and rocks, cliffs, or caves for nesting sites.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-84-96553-42-2
    .
  2. ^ Lowe, PR (1928). "Some anatomical and other notes on the systematic position of the genus Picathartes, together with some remarks on the families Sturnidae and Eulabetidae". Ibis. 14th Series. 2: 254–269.
  3. hdl:10088/12841
    .
  4. PMID 17174112
    .
  5. S2CID 84699124
    .
  6. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4
    .
  7. ISBN 978-0-262-19430-3
    .

External links
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