Rufous-browed Wren

Overview

The rufous-browed wren (Troglodytes rufociliatus) is a small bird species in the family Troglodytidae found in Central America from Mexico to Nicaragua. It is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN and is common in undisturbed habitats.

Identification

• Size: 10 to 11.5 cm long, weighing approximately 11 g.
• Plumage: Dark brown crown, back, and rump with dark bars; warm brown tail; pale buff supercilium; yellowish buff throat and chest.
• Song: Described as a varied, scratchy warble running into a tinkling trill.
• Call: A loud nasal 'zhweet'.

Habitat

Found in humid montane forest across Central America, including specific regions in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Elevation ranges from 1,250 m to 3,500 m, with the nominate subspecies typically between 1,700 m and 3,500 m in Guatemala.

Diet

Forages usually in pairs near the ground in thick foliage or in aerial epiphytes. Its diet includes caterpillars, though further dietary details are lacking.

Did you know?

Unusually for a wren, the male sometimes feeds the female on the nest during incubation.