Aripuana Antwren
Herpsilochmus stotzi
Recently described Amazonian antwren. Males are gray with a bold white eyebrow and a black crown, wings, and tail. Females have a pale rusty forehead patch. Occurs primarily in white sand forest, but also in humid forest, where it forages in the canopy, often with mixed-species flocks. The song is a rolling trill. The similar Predicted Antwren has a longer song; males have more black on the back and females have a more rusty forehead.
Identification
The Aripuana antwren is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs about 11 g (0.39 oz). Adult males have a black crown and nape, a long whitish supercilium, and a black streak through the eye. The rest of their upperparts are gray. Their wings are black with white tips on the coverts and white edges on the flight feathers. Their tail is black with large white feather tips and white edges on the outermost. Their throat is pale creamy white and their breast and belly whitish. Adult females have an orangish forehead and a black crown with white streaks. Their upperparts are gray. Their throat is a creamier white than the male's and the rest of their underparts are whiter than the male's.
Taxonomy
The Aripuana antwren was first discovered in 1986 and at the time was thought to be a subpopulation of the black-capped antwren (H. atriacapillus). It was recognized as a species and so described in 2013 and recognition by regional and worldwide taxonomic systems followed. Its specific epithet honors the discoverer Douglas Stotz.<p>The Aripuana antwren is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Herpsilochmus stotzi
- Authority
- Whitney, Cohn-Haft, Bravo, Schunck & Silveira, 2013
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Herpsilochmus
Range and habitat
The Aripuana antwren was first described from the area between the rios Aripuanã and Machado (the interfluvium) in Rondônia. It is now known somewhat more widely along the right bank of the Rio Madeira and along the Rio Roosevelt in more of Rondônia, southeastern Amazonas, and northwestern Mato Grosso. It primarily inhabits old-growth campinarana forest on nutrient-poor soil. The trees seldom exceed 20 m (66 ft) in height. It also occurs in tall undisturbed terra firme where it favors areas with Lepidocaryum tenue palms.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Brightly-colored and thickset pigeon of the forest canopy, usually seen flying over in pairs or small groups. Distinctive bicolored bill and bright green eyering are visible even from a distance. Both sexes are mostly green. Males have maroon backs, while females are green all over; both have jagged bright yellow striping on the wing edges. Flocks are seen in fruiting trees in lowland and foothill forests, where they often associate with other green pigeons. Gives smoothly undulating “woooOOOO”, often in series.
Alpine Pipit
Anthus gutturalis
A medium-sized bird of Alpine Grasslands. Brown upperparts with faintly streaked back and crown, dark wing feathers with pale edges, cream to pale buff underparts and a broad pale eyebrow. Prefers short grass with bushes nearby. Similar to Australasian Pipit but Alpine is larger, found at higher elevations and has buffy underparts and unstreaked chest. A rich and varied song. Several whistled notes are given before changing to the next set with different pitch, tone, sometimes rising or falling.
Sharp-tailed Ibis
Cercibis oxycerca
A medium-sized wading bird, mostly black with a red bill and legs. Relatively long tail projection imparts a long-bodied appearance which is enhanced by its short legs. At close range, note bare red throat and orbital skin. Occurs in open wetlands and seasonally flooded savannas, usually in pairs or small groups, probing in mud, shallow water, or soft ground for invertebrates and fish. Unusual, far-carrying call is a single, horn-like note, often given in duet by pairs, with one higher-pitched than the other; the overall effect is like the braying of a donkey. Larger and longer-tailed than Bare-faced Ibis, much more vocal, and does not occur in large groups.
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