Streak-crowned Antvireo

Overview

The streak-crowned antvireo (Dysithamnus striaticeps) is a species of bird in the subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, commonly known as the typical antbirds. It is a small, forest-dwelling passerine found across parts of Central America.

Identification

• Length of 10 to 11 cm with a weight of 15 to 17 g.
• Adult males have a dark gray forehead, crown, and nape with heavy grayish white streaking, blackish ear coverts, and a white throat and breast with prominent dark streaks.
• Adult females possess a rufous crown and nape with dark spots, and ochraceous breasts and flanks.
• Song is a long series of notes that rise in pitch and intensity, remain constant, then gradually shorten and descend, described as 'kepkepkepkepkepkrrrrrrr'.

Habitat

Found in extreme southeastern Honduras, Nicaragua, and most of Costa Rica, including the Caribbean slope and the Guanacaste Province. It primarily inhabits the understorey to mid-storey of evergreen forest in lowlands and foothills, ranging from sea level to 800 m, though it is occasionally seen in mature secondary forest.

Diet

This bird feeds mostly on insects and other arthropods such as spiders. It forages singly, in pairs, or within mixed-species flocks, typically between 1.5 and 8 m above the ground by gleaning from live foliage, vines, stems, and thin branches.

Did you know?

The species is classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, despite Wikipedia noting an assessment of Least Concern, highlighting a discrepancy in its conservation status evaluation.