Robert Ridgely (ornithologist)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert S. Ridgely is an American
ornithologist
, specializing in the neotropics. He is the co-author of three books on neotropical ornithology: the field guide The Birds of Panama
(with John Gwynne), The Birds of Ecuador
(with Paul Greenfield), and the The Birds of South America (with Guy Tudor), of which two monumental volumes (out of four), covering the passerine
s, have appeared. He was long affiliated with the Academy of Natural Sciences
in Philadelphia, then Vice-President at the American Bird Conservancy
until 2006. He is currently working for Nature and Culture International and is the president and founder of the highly successful conservation NGO Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco
, which owns and manages eight nature reserves in Ecuador
.
in Southern Ecuador
near the Podocarpus National Park
in November 1997. The bird is peculiar because of its unique call: it hoots and it barks! The bird was named Jocotoco Antpitta
Grallaria ridgelyi. Ridgeley's antpitta is one of the largest birds discovered within the past 50 years. He suspects that it went undetected for so long because either it has a very small range or it barks only during a short breeding season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ornithologist
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
, specializing in the neotropics. He is the co-author of three books on neotropical ornithology: the field guide The Birds of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
(with John Gwynne), The Birds of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
(with Paul Greenfield), and the The Birds of South America (with Guy Tudor), of which two monumental volumes (out of four), covering the passerine
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
s, have appeared. He was long affiliated with the Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
in Philadelphia, then Vice-President at the American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy
American Bird Conservancy is a non-profit membership organization with the mission of conserving native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas...
until 2006. He is currently working for Nature and Culture International and is the president and founder of the highly successful conservation NGO Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco
Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco
Fundación de Conservación Jocotoco is an Ecuadorian non-governmental environmental organization. Fundación Jocotoco was founded in 1998 when a group of conservationists came together to purchase the type locality of the newly discovered Jocotoco Antpitta . Robert S...
, which owns and manages eight nature reserves in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
.
Discovery of the bird that barks
Ridgely and fellow birder John Moore have discovered a bird of the antpitta series during their trek through the AndesAndes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
in Southern Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
near the Podocarpus National Park
Podocarpus National Park
Podocarpus National Park is a national park located in the provinces of Zamora Chinchipe and Loja, in the south-east of Ecuador. It was created in 1982....
in November 1997. The bird is peculiar because of its unique call: it hoots and it barks! The bird was named Jocotoco Antpitta
Jocotoco Antpitta
The Jocotoco Antpitta, Grallaria ridgelyi, is an endangered antpitta, a bird from Ecuador and Peru. It was only discovered in 1997, and scientifically described in 1999.-Description:...
Grallaria ridgelyi. Ridgeley's antpitta is one of the largest birds discovered within the past 50 years. He suspects that it went undetected for so long because either it has a very small range or it barks only during a short breeding season.