Gray-breasted Wood-Wren
Henicorhina leucophrys
Very small, stub-tailed wren of humid highland and foothill forest. Typically in areas with thick cover, from brush piles to dense flower banks, where notoriously difficult to see well. Common call is a hard scolding rattle. Varied, rich whistled songs have a rollicking cadence, distinct from songs of other wrens in the same habitat. Note the boldly striped face, gray breast, rich dark-brown upperparts, and short tail. White-breasted Wood-Wren occurs in lowlands.
Identification
The nominate subspecies of grey-breasted wood wren is 10 to 11.5 cm (3.9 to 4.5 in) long and weighs 13.5 to 17.7 g (0.48 to 0.62 oz). Its crown feathers are dull black with dark brown tips. Its nape and shoulders are a dark olive brown and its lower back, rump, and tail chestnut brown. The tail has blackish bars. It has a long gray-white supercilium, a wide black stripe behind the eye, and black cheeks streaked with pale gray. Its chin and throat are pale gray, the chest and belly a darker gray, and the sides of the belly and the lower flanks a dark buff. The other subspecies differ in size, the intensity of the color of various parts, and the amount, color, and placement of streaking.
Taxonomy
The grey-breasted wood-wren's taxonomy at the subspecies level is unsettled. According to the International Ornithological Committee (IOC), it has 17 subspecies. The Clements taxonomy and Handbook of Birds of the World (HBW) recognize 13 of them. The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society (SACC/AOS) cites a 2019 publication that "there are as many as 35 lineages within H. leucophrys that could merit recognition as species under some species concepts."
- Scientific name
- Henicorhina leucophrys
- Authority
- (Tschudi, 1844)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Genus
- Henicorhina
Range and habitat
The grey-breasted wood-wren has a discontinuous range from east-central and west-central Mexico, through Central America, and in South America east into Venezuela and south to central Bolivia. It inhabits humid montane forest of many types. In elevation it is usually found above 1,500 m (4,900 ft) though it occurs as low as 400 m (1,300 ft) in Colombia and 600 m (2,000 ft) in Mexico. It is found as high as 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in Venezuela and Colombia.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The grey-breasted wood wren forages singly or in small groups from the ground to only as high as 2 m (6.6 ft) in vegetation. Its diet appears to be solely invertebrates. It has been observed following army ant swarms in Costa Rica, Colombia, and Venezuela.<p>The grey-breasted wood wren's breeding season varies throughout its range. For example, it spans from May to June in Mexico, March to June in Costa Rica, and November to June in Ecuador. The nest has a round egg chamber with a downward facing antechamber and is constructed of fibrous rootlets with moss attached to the exterior. It is placed in vegetation up to 3 m (9.8 ft) above the ground, often over a bank or ravine. Two eggs are laid and the female alone incubates them; both sexes feed the young.<p>The songs and calls of the grey-breasted wood wren vary considerably across its range. In general the songs are "a series of very loud, ringing, energetic musical phrases, frequently repeated". It sings "virtually year-round and throughout the day, in all types of weather" and is "far more commonly heard than seen."
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Reunion Bulbul
Hypsipetes borbonicus
A medium-sized dark gray bird with a white eye, a black cap, and a carrot-colored bill. Endemic to the island of Reunion. Found in humid forest as well as secondary forest and forest dominated by exotic trees; now mostly confined to middle and high elevations. Often in small, noisy groups. Somewhat similar to male Reunion Cuckooshrike, but easily separated by the orange bill and pale eye. The song is an unmusical but varied series of rattling, metallic, and scraping notes, often given from a high perch. The calls include a “chek” note and a long mew.
White-winged Snowfinch
Montifringilla nivalis
Distinctive long-tailed and long-winged inhabitant of high alpine zones; can be found slightly lower down in winter and around human habitation (towns, monasteries, ski resorts), where it can be quite approachable. Black-and-white wings striking in flight. In the breeding season, the bill is dark and the chin is black (bill yellowish and chin patch absent in nonbreeding season). The head is paler grey in winter. Feeds on seeds and insects. Song consists of buzzy warbles and chirps. Gives nasal “reep” calls and dry chatters.
Forest Thrush
Turdus lherminieri
An uncommon robin-shaped inhabitant of moist forests where it is usually found feeding on insects and fruits. Its rich gray-brown upperparts and head, combined with bold scaly underparts make it unmistakable within its range. The call is a loud smack. Sings a variety of whistles and other sounds, often uttered in distinct phrases usually from a concealed mid-level perch.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.