Sooty-headed Wren

Overview

The sooty-headed wren (Pheugopedius spadix) is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae, found in the humid forests of Colombia and Panama. Previously considered conspecific with the black-throated wren, it is now recognised as distinct based on significant differences in plumage, song, and range.

Identification

• Length of approximately 14.5 cm with a dull blackish crown, shoulders, and back.
• Bright chestnut rump and a tail that is chestnut with bold black bars.
• Face is predominantly black with white streaks, featuring a black chin and throat that contrast with a bright chestnut lower throat and chest.
• Vocalisation consists of a series of gurgling whistles, produced by both sexes.

Habitat

The species inhabits the interior and edges of humid forest, cloudforest, and dense secondary forest, favouring areas with heavy moss growth. Its range covers the Pacific lowlands of Colombia from southern Chocó to Nariño, extending east into the central Magdalena Valley, as well as the Pacific slope of far southern Panama's Darién Province. It typically occupies elevations between 800 and 1,800 m, though it can be found as low as 400 m in Colombia.

Diet

Feeding primarily on invertebrates such as spiders and adult and larval insects, the bird usually forages in pairs while staying low in the vegetation. It seldom joins mixed-species foraging flocks but has been observed following army ant swarms to access prey.

Did you know?

Despite having little published information regarding its breeding phenology, the sooty-headed wren appears to have a breeding season that spans from March to December. Its nest is constructed as a ball made of coarse material and leaves, complete with a side entrance.