Ornate Stipplethroat

Overview

The ornate stipplethroat, formerly known as the ornate antwren, is a species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae. It is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, with populations believed to be stable across its range.

Identification

• Length of 9 to 11 cm, with adult males in the nominate subspecies featuring a gray head, rufous chestnut lower back, and a solid black throat.
• Females possess an olive-tinged cinnamon face and a black throat with white streaks, while underparts are olive-tinged cinnamon.
• Song varies by subspecies, ranging from a thin, high-pitched chipper to a rattling trill, with calls described as short, emphatic 'pseet!' or 'tsee!'.

Habitat

Found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, primarily inhabiting evergreen forests including terra firme, transitional forest, and várzea. It favors areas with Guadua bamboo or vine tangles, reaching elevations of up to 1,500 m in Colombia but generally lower in Brazil and Ecuador.

Diet

Feeds on arthropods, particularly insects and spiders, by gleaning from dead leaves on trees, vine tangles, and small palms. Foraging is typically conducted singly, in pairs, in family groups, or as part of a mixed-species flock within the forest understory to mid-storey.

Did you know?

Once classified as the ornate antwren, the species was renamed to highlight a common feature of its group and to distinguish it from Myrmotherula antwrens following a 2006 genetic and vocal study.