Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris)

To listen his song: aves.brasil.nom.br/servlet/searchSounds?action=PREVIOUS Rufous-bellied ThrushKnown as Sabiá-laranjeira in Brazil (Turdus rufiventris) this thrush is pretty common and this one was frantically trying to find its chick after a storm at the weekend had dislodged its nest.The Sabiá, or Thrush, is known for the beauty of both its plumage and its song and is found all over Brazil, in 12 species, the best known of which is the Rufous-bellied Thrush, or Sabiá-laranjeira, Brazil’s national bird. Like many birds, it migrates north to the warm tropical zone in the winter and returns to the temperate zone when the climate in southern Brazil starts to get warm again. It lives alone or in pairs, in forests, parks, backyards and forested urban areas and can live 25 to 30 years. Hopping along the ground, it feeds on the coconuts from several species of palm tree, spitting out the pits after about an hour and contributing to the distribution of these plants. It also feeds on oranges and mature papayas, as well as insects and spiders. For years, the Sabiá has been celebrated in both writing and music , including in several very famous Brazilian poems and songs. Because of its widespread presence and popularity in Brazilian culture, the Brazilian Wildlife Preservation Association proposed that it be designated as an official national symbol of Brazil, a suggestion first made in 1968 that had gradually gained widespread public support by 1987, when a first (but unsuccessful) attempt was made to declare it Brazil’s national bird. Finally, on October 4, 2002, the Sabiá-laranjeira became the newest official symbol of Brazil, designated as the national bird in a Presidential Decree, which included for the first time its scientific name, “Turdus rufiventris.”

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