The rufous-breasted leaftosser is a species of bird in the subfamily Sclerurinae, the leaftossers and miners, of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Region
Atlantic Forest of southeastern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid evergreen and semi-deciduous Atlantic Forest from eastern and southeastern Brazil south into eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina (Misiones). Favors dense, shaded understory with deep leaf litter, ravines, and stream gullies. Found in primary forest and mature secondary growth, often along slopes and forested foothills. Typically keeps close to the ground and uses cover to move between foraging spots.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named for its habit of flicking aside leaf litter to expose prey, the rufous-breasted leaftosser forages quietly on the forest floor. It nests in burrows excavated in earthen banks or stream cuts, an unusual strategy among passerines. Its presence is often a sign of intact, shaded Atlantic Forest understory.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct between cover
Social Behavior
Usually seen alone or in pairs, maintaining territories on the forest floor. Nests are tunneled into earthen banks or road cuts, ending in a chamber lined sparsely with plant material. Clutch size is small, and both adults attend the nest. Breeding largely occurs in the austral spring–summer within its range.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, whistled notes that may accelerate or slightly descend, carrying well through dense forest. Calls include sharp, high chips and thin whistles given from low perches or the ground.
