Stripe-breasted Wren

Overview

The stripe-breasted wren (Cantorchilus thoracicus) is a small passerine bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is a monotypic species found exclusively on the Caribbean slope of Middle America.

Identification

• Measures 11.5 to 12.5 cm in length with a mean weight of 17.6 g.
• Features a gray-brown crown and dark umber shoulders, back, and rump, with a dull blackish tail marked by buffy bars.
• Face and neck sides display white streaks over a blackish base, while the throat and chest show black, white, and gray lengthwise streaks that stop abruptly at a plain olive-brown lower belly.
• Vocalisation includes a uniform series of whistles on one note, similar to small owls, and a cheerful series of liquid bubbling whistles.

Habitat

The species inhabits the Caribbean slope of Middle America, ranging from eastern Honduras through northeastern Nicaragua and eastern Costa Rica into Panama. It prefers thick vegetation along woodland edges, clearings, and streams, occasionally occurring in cacao and shade coffee plantations. Its elevation range spans from sea level to 1,100 m.

Diet

The stripe-breasted wren forages in low, dense vegetation. Its diet is known to include insects and spiders, though it has not been fully documented.

Did you know?

The nest is uniquely constructed by both sexes and features two chambers, with a downward-facing entrance in one chamber. It is draped over a branch and made of plant fibers covered with moss, typically situated 1.5 to 6 m above ground.