White-browed Antpitta

Overview

The white-browed antpitta (Hylopezus ochroleucus) is a small bird species endemic to Brazil. It belongs to the family Grallariidae and is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Length of 12 to 14 cm with a weight of approximately 28 g, featuring uniform plumage in both sexes.
• Distinctive white to buffy white lores and a streak behind the eye bordered by thin black lines.
• Underparts include a white throat with a black line extending from the bill, a mostly white breast with dark streaks, and buffy ochraceous sides and flanks.
• Song consists of three parts, sounding like 'piupiu-piupiu tetju tetju tetju tetjutu', delivered from a low perch in thick foliage.

Habitat

Found in the caatinga region of eastern Brazil, ranging from western Ceará to northern Mato Grosso. It primarily inhabits the understory of semi-deciduous and deciduous woodlands at elevations between 400 and 1,000 m.

Diet

While its specific diet is not detailed, it is assumed to consume arthropods, earthworms, and other small invertebrates. Foraging involves walking and hopping on the forest floor to probe into leaf litter and soil.

Did you know?

For a period in the mid-twentieth century, the speckle-breasted antpitta was considered a subspecies of the white-browed antpitta before being separated following a 1995 publication that highlighted differences in vocalisation, plumage, and habitat.