White-headed Wren
Campylorhynchus albobrunneus
Medium-sized wren found from eastern Panama through western Colombia. Distinctive in range: all-white head and underparts contrast with dark brown (almost black) back. Occurs in pairs or small groups in humid forest up to around 1,500 m. Forages at all levels, especially around epiphytes.
Identification
The white-headed wren is 18.5 cm (7.3 in) long and weighs 27.5 to 39 g (0.97 to 1.38 oz). It is unique among wrens, having essentially only two colors in large blocks. The sexes are alike. The nominate adult's entire head, nape, and underside from the throat through the lower belly are pure white. The rest of the body but for the vent area is dull blackish brown; the vent is gray-brown. C. a. harterti differs from the nominate only in having darker upperparts. The juvenile has a streaky gray-brown crown, a buffy face and underparts, and a pale cinnamon belly.
Taxonomy
The white-headed wren has in the past been treated as conspecific with band-backed wren (Campylorhynchus zonatus) and with thrush-like wren (C. turdinus). Molecular analyses refuted that treatment and confirmed that it is a separator species.<p>The white-headed wren has two recognized subspecies, the nominate C. a. albobrunneus and C. a. harterti.
- Scientific name
- Campylorhynchus albobrunneus
- Authority
- (Lawrence, 1862)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Genus
- Campylorhynchus
Range and habitat
The nominate white-headed wren is found only in Panama, from the Canal Zone east to western Darién Province. C. a. harterti is found from eastern Darién through western Colombia almost to Ecuador. It inhabits both pristine and disturbed humid forest with epiphytes. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
There are few data about the white-headed wren's diet though it is known to include beetles, ants, and other insects. It forages mostly in the middle to upper levels of the forest and frequently investigates epiphytes. It often forages in small groups that are probably extended families.<p>A few white-headed wren nests have been found; they are globular with a side entrance and sited in epiphytes. No other information on its breeding phenology has been published.<p>Both sexes of the white-headed wren sing "a series of harsh scratchy notes" [1]. Its call is "a harsh 'kahk'" [2].
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Psarocolius viridis
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Principe White-eye
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Stigmatura bahiae
Small, slender, and long-tailed bird found in dry caatinga scrub in eastern Brazil. It has grayish brown upperparts, buffy-yellow underparts and eyebrow, and conspicuous white patches in the wings and tail. Very similar to Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, but slightly smaller and tends to have duller yellow underparts and browner upperparts. Even their voices are similar, with both species giving rollicking series of rattling trills, often as a duet. Bahia Wagtail-Tyrant’s song sounds less dry and buzzy and includes more clear, whistled notes. Recently split from Lesser Wagtail-Tyrant, which is restricted to river islands in the Amazon basin.
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