Nightingale Wren
Microcerculus philomela
Small, dark brown wren of humid evergreen forest in tropical lowlands and foothills; most often detected by its distinctive song. Usually stays low, on or near the forest floor in shady understory, and is difficult to see well. Note the small size, long bill, overall plain plumage, and stubby tail.
Identification
The northern nightingale-wren is 10 to 11.5 cm (3.9 to 4.5 in) long; seven males weighed 17.4 to 21.5 g (0.61 to 0.76 oz) and four females 16.4 to 17.4 g (0.58 to 0.61 oz). Adults are almost entirely dark brown, but with a dark gray throat and breast. Black tips on feathers of both the upper- and undersides give a scalloped appearance. Juveniles are similar though the scaling on their upperparts is darker and that on the underparts is whitish to pale gray.
Taxonomy
The northern nightingale-wren forms a species pair with the southern nightingale-wren (Microcerculus marginatus) and was in the past considered conspecific with it. It is currently treated as a species in its own right by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and the Clements taxonomy, though under different English names. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Microcerculus philomela
- Authority
- (Salvin, 1861)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Troglodytidae
- Genus
- Microcerculus
Range and habitat
The northern nightingale-wren is found from Chiapas in Mexico through Guatemala, southern Belize, Honduras, and Nicaragua into northern Costa Rica. It mostly occurs along the Atlantic side but is found locally on the Pacific side in Chiapas and Costa Rica. In Mexico it ranges in elevation from near sea level to 1,400 m (4,600 ft), and in Costa Rica occasionally up to that level but more commonly only as high as 1,200 m (3,900 ft).<p>The northern nightingale-wren inhabits the interior of lowland tropical forest. It favors virgin evergreen forest and undisturbed cloud forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The northern nightingale-wren forages on and near the ground, in undergrowth, brush piles, and on fallen logs. It opportunistically follows army ant swarms. Its diet is almost entirely insects.<p>The northern nightingale-wren is reported to breed between May and September in Costa Rica, but little else is known about its nesting biology.<p>The northern nightingale-wren's song is a "confident to hesitant, rising and falling series of whistles". It is sung during most of the year and often from low perches.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Chunky, short-tailed, flat-headed bird patterned in mossy green and black. Scaly above and below with broad green wingbar and black cap. Female has less black in plumage than male, but still distinctively scaly. Unobtrusive, often perching inconspicuously in the middle or upper levels of Andean cloud forest. Most often seen around a fruiting tree; occasionally follows mixed-species flocks. Listen for loud descending whistle.
White-throated Flowerpecker
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A small, stub-tailed, thick-billed songbird, with dark upperparts, white throat, and yellow on the underside. Males are dark, blackish-blue above, while the duller females are gray on the upperside. Usually in pairs, within the treetops of wet forest and adjoining areas. The only similar species would be female sunbirds, which can be eliminated on bill shape; White-throated Flowerpecker possesses a stubby bill. Song is a series of ascending high notes, and call is a single very high-pitched “whit” note.
Rufous-thighed Kite
Harpagus diodon
Small unobtrusive raptor. Adults have a gray body (darker above than below), and rufous thighs and eyes. The throat is white with a very thin dividing black line helping to distinguish it from the similar Bicolored Hawk. In flight, adults have distinctive rufous underwings (white in juveniles), and three pale bands on the tail. Juveniles are streaked below with barred rufous thighs. Found in the canopy of primary forests and at borders. Often seen soaring high overhead.
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