Epinecrophylla ornata
The Ornate Stipplethroat (Epinecrophylla ornata) is a small, striking member of the antwren family (Thamnophilidae), measuring approximately 10-11.5 cm (4.0-4.5 in) in length and weighing 9-12 grams. Its most distinctive feature is the intricate "stippled" patterning on its throat and breast, a mosaic of fine black spots on a pale grey or buff background, giving rise to its common name. Males exhibit a more pronounced black throat patch bordered by white malar stripes, contrasting with an oli...
Found primarily in the understory and mid-story of humid submontane and lower montane forests, typically between 800 and 1,800 meters (2,600-5,900 ft) elevation, often favoring areas with dense vine tangles and moss-covered branches.
Exclusively insectivorous, primarily consuming small arthropods such as spiders, beetles, caterpillars, and ant larvae, obtained through active gleaning from foliage and bark.
Ornate Stipplethroats are active diurnal foragers, primarily active from dawn to dusk, often spending the night roosting solitarily in dense foliage within their territory. Their foraging strategy involves meticulously gleaning small arthropods from the undersides of leaves, moss, and bark crevic...
The Ornate Stipplethroat is a resident species found primarily in the Neotropics, with its core distribution spanning from southeastern Costa Rica and western Panama through the Andes Mountains in Colombia, Ecuador, and northern Peru. Its range in Costa Rica is concentrated on the Caribbean slope...
Near Threatened
- The "stipple" in its name comes from the intricate, fine black spots on its throat and breast, which are unique to each individual like a fingerprint. - Despite its small size, the Ornate Stipplethroat can consume up to 60% of its body weight in insects daily to fuel its active foraging lifesty...