Bahia Antwren
Herpsilochmus pileatus
Small, long-tailed antwren. Males resemble many other antwrens, mostly gray with a black cap, a long white eyebrow, and a black eye-stripe. Females have a streaked crown and a buffy forehead and underparts. Inhabits the middle levels and canopy of coastal forest (restinga), where it forages singly or accompanying mixed-species flocks. Sings a series of 4-7 notes that accelerate gradually and then decelerate slightly at the end.
Identification
The Bahia antwren is 10.5 to 11 cm (4.1 to 4.3 in) long and weighs about 9 g (0.32 oz). Adult males have a black crown and nape, a long white to pale gray supercilium, and a black streak through the eye. The rest of their upperparts are gray with white-edged blackish scapulars and a white patch between them. Their wings are black with white tips on the coverts and white edges on the flight feathers. Their tail is black with white feather tips and white edges on the outermost. Their underparts are white with a gray wash. Adult females have a buffish forehead and black and white streaked crown. Their upperparts are gray with an olive tinge and their underparts white with an ochraceous tinge.
Taxonomy
The Bahia antwren has a rather tortuous taxonomic history. At one time its binomial Herpsilocmus pileatus applied to what is now the caatinga antwren (later H. sellowi and since 2021 Radinopsyche sellowi). What are now the black-capped antwren (H. atricapillus) and creamy-bellied antwren (H. motacilloides) were treated as conspecific with the Bahia antwren. The splitting into three species and the revision of binomials was achieved by the early 2000s. The Bahia and black-capped antwrens are now considered sister species.<p>The Bahia antwren is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Herpsilochmus pileatus
- Authority
- (Lichtenstein, MHC, 1823)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Herpsilochmus
Range and habitat
The Bahia antwren is found in coastal Bahia, Brazil, from south of Salvador to the area of Transcoso. It inhabits the mid-storey to the canopy of restinga woodlands, generally those on sandy soils. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 840 m (2,800 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Bahia antwren is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The Bahia antwren's diet has not been detailed but includes insects and probably spiders. It forages singly, in pairs, and in family groups and sometimes as a member of a mixed-species feeding flock. It typically forages from about 5 m (20 ft) above the ground to the canopy but will feed lower in scrubby areas. It usually captures prey by gleaning from foliage, stems, vines, and branches, mostly by reaching or short lunges from a perch. It sometimes makes short sallies to grab prey or to hover-glean.<p>Nothing is known about the Bahia antwren's breeding biology.<p>The Bahia antwren's song is a "fast series of very high, rising 'toot' notes, accelerating to a rattle" and lasts two to three seconds. Its calls include a "short note sounding like 'greep' " and a "rather slow-paced rattle".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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