Spot-tailed Antwren

Overview

The spot-tailed antwren (Herpsilochmus sticturus) is a small bird belonging to the subfamily Thamnophilinae within the family of typical antbirds. It is a monotypic species found across parts of South America and is currently assessed as being of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Males possess a black crown and nape, a long pale gray to white supercilium, and a black streak through the eye, contrasting with dark gray backs featuring black patches and white-edged scapulars.
• The species measures 9.5 to 10.5 cm in length and weighs 8 to 9 g.
• Vocalisations include a short, very high, staccato series that changes into a rattle, along with a sharply downslurred 'chut' and an abrupt, muffled whistle.

Habitat

Distributed from eastern Venezuela through the Guianas into northeastern Brazil, this bird inhabits the mid-level to the canopy of humid evergreen forest. It shows a strong preference for areas near water, such as gallery forest and seasonally flooded forest, where it frequently enters vine tangles.

Diet

The diet consists mostly of arthropods, which are captured by actively gleaning leaves, stems, and vines from a perch. It forages at heights of 15 to 30 m above the ground, operating singly, in pairs, in family groups, or as part of mixed-species feeding flocks.

Did you know?

Despite being an antwren, the species is not known to follow army ants, distinguishing its foraging behaviour from that of many other members of its family.