Myrmotherula schisticolor
The Slaty Antwren (Myrmotherula schisticolor) is a diminutive and often inconspicuous Neotropical passerine, measuring approximately 9-10 cm (3.5-4 inches) in length and weighing around 7-10 grams. Males are uniformly slate-gray with two prominent white wing bars and a small white patch concealed on the lower back, while females exhibit distinct sexual dimorphism, featuring a browner crown, rufous-tinged underparts, and a heavily streaked throat and breast, contrasting with the male's solid c...
This species primarily inhabits the understory and mid-story of humid montane evergreen and cloud forests, as well as dense secondary growth and forest edges, typically at elevations ranging from 500 to 2,500 meters (1,600-8,200 feet).
The Slaty Antwren's diet consists almost exclusively of small insects and spiders, which it gleans from foliage and small branches within the forest understory.
Slaty Antwrens are diurnal and highly active, spending their days meticulously foraging within the dense forest understory, often as key members of mixed-species foraging flocks. They employ a 'gleaning' foraging strategy, meticulously picking small insects and spiders from the surfaces of leaves...
The Slaty Antwren is a widespread resident throughout the humid montane forests of Central and South America. Its distribution extends from southern Mexico (Chiapas, Oaxaca) southward through Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. In South America, its range continue...
Least Concern
- The Slaty Antwren is remarkably small, typically weighing less than a quarter of an ounce - roughly the weight of two U.S. pennies! - Despite their name, Slaty Antwrens are not obligate followers of army ants like some larger antbirds; their 'antwren' moniker refers more to their small size and...