Pectoral Antwren

Overview

The pectoral antwren (Herpsilochmus pectoralis) is a Vulnerable species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae, commonly known as the typical antbirds. It is endemic to Brazil and is monotypic within its genus.

Identification

• Males feature a black crown with white spots, a long whitish supercilium, and a black breast patch, contrasting with white underparts.
• Females possess a rufous crown, brownish olive upperparts, and buff-colored underparts.
• The species is small, measuring 11 to 12 cm in length.
• Its song is described as a high, very fast chattering series of 'tututjdrrrrrr' notes, while its call is a flat 'caa'.

Habitat

The pectoral antwren has a disjunct distribution in far northeastern and central-eastern Brazil, where it inhabits deciduous and gallery forests, restinga woodlands, and tall caatinga woodlands. It occurs from sea level up to 850 m in elevation and does not favor any particular stratum of the forest.

Diet

The diet primarily consists of insects and probably spiders. The bird forages actively and methodically, often gleaning prey from leaves, stems, and vines by reaching or making short sallies to hover-glean. It typically feeds between 2.5 and 7 m above the ground, rarely on the ground, and forages singly, in pairs, or in mixed-species flocks.

Did you know?

Although it belongs to the family of typical antbirds, this species is not known to follow army ants.