Myrmotherula longicauda
The Stripe-chested Antwren (Myrmotherula longicauda) is a diminutive and active member of the Thamnophilidae family, known for its intricate plumage and incessant foraging in the humid submontane and foothill forests of the Andes. Measuring approximately 9.5-10.5 cm in length and weighing a mere 7-10 grams, it presents a striking example of sexual dimorphism. Males boast a slate-gray crown and upperparts, contrasting with a prominent black mask and white supercilium. Their most distinctive fi...
Found primarily in humid lowland and submontane evergreen forests, particularly at forest edges, in secondary growth, and along streams. Typically occupies elevations ranging from 300 to 1,500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide variety of small arthropods including beetles, spiders, and caterpillars. Forages by gleaning insects from leaves and twigs in dense undergrowth.
Stripe-chested Antwrens are diurnal insectivores, perpetually active in the mid-story and understory of their forest habitats. They are frequently observed as key components of mixed-species foraging flocks, moving rapidly through dense foliage in pursuit of arthropods. Foraging involves quick gl...
The Stripe-chested Antwren is resident across a broad swathe of western South America, extending from the foothills of the Andes east into the western Amazon basin. Its distribution spans southern Colombia, through eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru, into northern and central Bolivia. A disjunct po...
Least Concern
- Despite its small size, the Stripe-chested Antwren is a very active and noisy member of mixed-species foraging flocks, often acting as a 'nuclear species' that other birds follow. - The specific epithet 'longicauda' translates to 'long-tailed,' though its tail is only moderately long compared t...