Pygmy Antwren
Myrmotherula brachyura
Tiny, very short-tailed antwren of rainforest midstory and lower canopy. Males are yellow with white head and wing bars, and extensive black streaking on the head and back; females are similar to males, but have a red-orange wash on the head and more extensive streaking in the breast. Most common in young rainforest and around forest edges, where often found with mixed species flocks. Commonly detected by its song, an accelerating series of musical notes that rises and drops in pitch at the end.
Identification
The pygmy antwren is 7.5 to 8.5 cm (3.0 to 3.3 in) long and weighs 6 to 8 g (0.21 to 0.28 oz). It is a small bird with a tiny tail. Adult males have a black streak through the eye, white cheeks, and a thin black "moustache". Their crown, back, rump, and tail are black with thin white streaks that are faintly yellow except on the crown. They have a white patch between the shoulders. Their wings are black with white tips on the coverts and white edges on the flight feathers. Their throat is white and the rest of their underparts are yellow with sparse black streaks on the sides. Adult females have a buff tinge on the cheeks and crown stripes. They lack the white patch between the shoulders, and in the northern part of their range have a pale buff throat and breast.
Taxonomy
The pygmy antwren is monotypic. It previously had two subspecies, but in the 21st century one of them was treated as a separate species by some authors and currently (2024) by worldwide taxonomic systems as one of two subspecies of the moustached antwren (M. ignota).
- Scientific name
- Myrmotherula brachyura
- Authority
- (Hermann, 1783)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Myrmotherula
Range and habitat
The pygmy antwren is a bird of the Amazon Basin. It is found from central and eastern Colombia east through southern Venezuela, the Guianas, and Brazil to the Atlantic and south through eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru into northern Bolivia and in Brazil to Mato Grosso state. It inhabits the canopy and subcanopy of lowland evergreen forest of several types including terra firme, várzea, and transitional forests. It also occurs in secondary forest. The species favors forest edges and the edges of openings provided by fallen trees. In elevation the species generally occurs below 600 m (2,000 ft) but reaches 800 m (2,600 ft) in Colombia and 900 m (3,000 ft) in Brazil.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The pygmy antwren is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The pygmy antwren feeds on arthropods, especially insects and probably also spiders. It typically forages singly, in pairs, or in family groups and sometimes briefly joins mixed-species feeding flocks that pass through its territory. It forages in the forest's mid-storey to the canopy, typically between 8 and 25 m (30 and 80 ft) up though sometimes lower. It actively seeks prey along thin branches and vines, and gleans from foliage, branches, and mosses. It occasionally flutters from a perch to capture prey in mid-air or by hover-gleaning.<p>The pygmy antwren's breeding season has not been defined but appears to vary geographically. In various parts of its range breeding activity has been noted in January, June, and August. Nothing else is known about its breeding biology.<p>The pygmy antwren's song has been described as a "short, rising, accecelerating series of very high, sharp notes, at start well separated and gradually changing to a descending rattle/trill". It has been written as "chree-chree-chree-chee-chee-ee-ee-ee-ee-rrr". Its calls include a "high, falling 'mew'", "various trilled contact calls", and "short whistles repeated irregularly, a short, rapid musical trill (variable, often slowing and falling in pitch), and abrupt chip, sometimes strung into a rattle".
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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