Wing-banded Wren

Overview

The wing-banded wren (Microcerculus bambla) is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae found across parts of South America. It is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though it is not considered common anywhere in its range.

Identification

• Measures 11.5 cm in length with a weight of 17 to 19 g.
• Nominate adults have a blackish-brown crown and upperparts, with a dark chocolate-brown wing featuring a broad white band when closed.
• The face is dark brown with a gray chin and throat, while the chest is gray-brown with dark feather tips.
• Song consists of 3–6 clear, pure high-pitched notes separated by short pauses, sometimes followed by a long, sustained glissando; calls are described as a sharp metallic 'click'.

Habitat

Inhabits lowland rainforests with dense or open understories, requiring a wet environment with many rotting logs. The range includes Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, typically found from sea level to 1,100 m, though it can reach up to 1,500 m.

Diet

Forages on and near the ground, preferring to explore rotten logs and woody detritus rather than leaf litter. Its diet is mostly arthropods, but it has also been observed carrying tiny frogs to a nest.

Did you know?

Although its nest is located in a cavity within an arboreal termite nest, this space was likely excavated by a yellow-billed jacamar.