Herpsilochmus stotzi
The Aripuana Antwren (*Herpsilochmus stotzi*) is a diminutive and recently described passerine belonging to the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), measuring approximately 11-12 cm (4.3-4.7 inches) in length and weighing 9-11 grams (0.32-0.39 oz). Males are strikingly patterned with a black crown, broad white supercilium, and black ear-coverts, complemented by black streaking on olive-gray upperparts and two prominent white wing-bars; their underparts are pale gray, often with a yellowish wash o...
Found primarily in the mid-story and sub-canopy of humid *terra firme* evergreen forests in lowland Amazonia. It often favors transitional forest types or areas near watercourses, typically below 200 meters elevation.
Mainly insectivorous, feeding on a variety of small insects and spiders, which are gleaned actively from leaves, twigs, and bark.
Aripuana Antwrens are highly active, diurnal birds that constantly glean for prey amidst the foliage and branches. They are frequently observed as integral members of mixed-species foraging flocks, moving rapidly through the forest canopy alongside other antbirds and generalist insectivores. Male...
The Aripuana Antwren is an endemic resident of the Brazilian Amazon, with a restricted distribution primarily within the states of southern Amazonas, northern Rondônia, and western Mato Grosso. Its known range is generally delineated by areas south of the Aripuanã River, west of the Roosevelt Riv...
Near Threatened
- The Aripuana Antwren was only formally described as a new species to science in 2013, making it a very recent addition to the ornithological record. - It is named after the Aripuanã River in the Brazilian Amazon, a region where it is primarily found. - The species epithet 'stotzi' honors Dougla...