Threatened: Russet-winged Spadebill by Ken _Gilliland
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Another bird from my Threatened Endangered Extinct set...
The Russet-winged Spadebill is endemic to southeastern Brazil (Paraná and São Paulo eastward to central Espírito Santo, south to northeastern Santa Catarina and northeastern Rio Grande do Sul) and adjacent eastern Paraguay (Canindeyú southward to Paraguarí, Caazapá and Itapúa) and extreme northeastern Argentina (Iguazú National Park and Salto Encantado Provincial Park, in northern Misiones).
It is found in the undergrowth of humid forests and medium levels of mature second growth, both in coastal mountains and lowlands and in interior tableland forests.
They are called spadebills because of their broad, flat, triangular bills. It sits still on perch in crown of small tree (3–8 m), scanning surrounding foliage for prey; then either suddenly moves to new perch, or uses rapid upward-sally or diagonal-sally maneuvers to scoop prey from undersides of leaves, after which it continues without pause to a new perch.
There are only 2,500-9,999 mature individuals with a decreasing population trend. Extensive and continuing deforestation across most of its range may have caused a population decline and led to its disappearance from previously occupied locations. Less than 20% of original extent of lowland Atlantic Forest remains intact, and surviving forest, even within protected areas, suffers from agricultural conversion, mining, urbanization, industrialization, and associated road-building; in Paraguay alone, 38% of forests disappeared between 1984 and 1991, less than 10% is now left, and significant forest loss occurs even within San Rafael National Park.

Comments (5)
It really looks like this bird belongs in this setting! Splendid work!
Nicely done!
Thank you Ken for this image and the info!
Naturally beautiful environment Ken. Lovely work!
Love the perspective of being so close down to the ground. Like one is a fellow bird hopping amongst the rocks