Plain-throated Antwren

Overview

The plain-throated antwren (Isleria hauxwelli) is a small bird belonging to the family Thamnophilidae, often referred to as typical antbirds. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a very large distribution across South America, although its population is believed to be decreasing.

Identification

• Males of the nominate subspecies are predominantly grey, paler on the underside, with a whitish throat, a white patch between the scapulars, and white spots on the uppertail coverts.
• Females feature cinnamon-rufous washed grey upperparts and tawny-cinnamon underparts with a paler throat, while flight feathers possess dull cinnamon edges.
• Juveniles resemble females but exhibit an overall olive tinge.
• The song consists of a series of very high, crescendoing, slightly accelerating 'weec' notes, accompanied by a very high, strident 'wic' call.

Habitat

Found in the Amazon Basin across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, this species primarily inhabits terra firme evergreen forest, as well as várzea, igapó, and transitional forest. It favours areas with shady undergrowth and abundant leaf litter, typically occurring below 600 m in elevation, though rarely reaching up to 900 m.

Diet

The diet consists mainly of insects and spiders, with possible inclusion of small lizards. Foraging occurs singly, in pairs, or within mixed-species flocks, usually from the ground up to 1 m but occasionally as high as 3 m. The bird actively gleans from leaves, stems, and branches, takes prey from leaf litter, and has been observed following army ant swarms.

Did you know?

The species was originally named Formicivora hauxwelli in 1857 to honour John Hauxwell, the collector of the type specimen, before eventually being moved to its current genus, Isleria, in 2012.