Orange-bellied Antwren
Terenura sicki
Small canopy antwren, unmistakable in its tiny range. Males have a gray back, gray head, black-and-white streaked flanks, and white underparts. Females have a cinnamon back and a brownish tinge to the underparts and head. Found in a few remaining fragments of semi-humid forest at higher elevation, where it forages actively in the canopy, typically with mixed-species flocks. Draws attention to itself by its fast song with uneven “chip” notes, similar to Streak-capped Antwren, with which it doesn’t overlap in range.
Identification
The orange-bellied antwren is 9.5 to 10.5 cm (3.7 to 4.1 in) long and weighs 6.5 to 7 g (0.23 to 0.25 oz). Adult males' crown, nape, and upper back are streaked black and white. The rest of their upperparts are black with a few white streaks; they have a hidden white patch between the shoulders. Their wings are black with pale edges on the flight feathers and wide white tips on the coverts. Their tail is blackish. Their throat and underparts are white. Adult females have a rufous back and rump and orange underparts. The white streaks on their head have a pale buff tinge.
Taxonomy
The orange-bellied antwren is monotypic. It shares genus Terenura with the streak-capped antwren (T. maculata); the two are sister species and may form a superspecies.
- Scientific name
- Terenura sicki
- Authority
- Teixeira & Gonzaga, 1983
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Genus
- Terenura
Range and habitat
The orange-bellied antwren has a disjunct distribution in the northeastern Brazilian states of Pernambuco and Alagoas. It inhabits the subcanopy and canopy of semi-humid evergreen forest. In elevation it mostly ranges between 200 and 700 m (660 and 2,300 ft) but occurs as low as 100 m (330 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The orange-bellied antwren is a year-round resident throughout its range.<p>The orange-bellied antwren's diet is not known in detail but is mostly insects and probably includes spiders. It forages singly, in pairs, or in family groups, and often though not habitually as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. It feeds mostly between about 7 and 20 m (20 and 70 ft) above the ground though sometimes as low as 5 m (20 ft). It actively and restlessly gleans its prey in dense vegetation, mostly in vine tangles. It typically gleans while perched or with short lunges. It sometimes makes short sallies to hover-glean. It is not known to follow army ant swarms.<p>The orange-bellied antwren's breeding season is thought to span from November to February. Its nest is a small cup of moss and fungal fibers, hung from a fork near the end of a branch typically about 10 to 12 m (30 to 40 ft) above the ground. The clutch size, incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known.<p>The orange-bellied antwren's song is a "very high, very sharp 'tewée-tuwée-tititititi', diminishing in strength". Its calls are a "sharp 'chip' and slightly longer, lower downslurred note".
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Spot-breasted Thornbird
Phacellodomus maculipectus
Shy understory bird of upper humid montane forest in the east slope of the Andes from central-western Argentina to central Bolivia. Prefers thick understory, and more often heard than seen. Often curious and inquisitive, but tends to stay hidden when possible. From similar Streak-fronted Thornbird by reddish cap, spotted underparts, and habitat (Streak-fronted prefers dryer and more open woodland). Song an accelerating then decelerating series of 10-12 “queet!” notes that rise and then fall in pitch.
Chinese Leaf Warbler
Phylloscopus yunnanensis
Small plump leaf warbler. A “Pallas’s-type” leaf warbler: stout, with a pale rump, crown stripe, and prominent brow stripes. Olive-yellow above with a faint gray wash on the nape. Chinese is distinguished from Pallas’s by its paler, more faded-looking brow and crown stripes, less yellow suffusion all over the body, less compact appearance, and less obvious or absent upper wingbar. Extremely similar Gansu Leaf Warbler and Lemon-rumped Warbler can be difficult to separate; note Chinese’s slightly more elongated and less rounded appearance, a lack of a distinct hook under the end of the brow stripe, less contrasting and more yellowish head patterning, and paler yellowish secondaries. Forages actively, often hovering and hopping about at mid-level. Breeds in montane broadleaved deciduous or mixed forest; moves to lower elevations in winter. On average, found at lower altitudes than Lemon-rumped and Gansu. Lengthy song is unique and bizarre, with a twanging, grating quality: “btrichi-btrichi-btrichi.” Call is an explosive “wip!”, often repeated in medium-length series on the breeding grounds.
Monteiro's Bushshrike
Malaconotus monteiri
A large, robust bushshrike with a massive head, a chunky hook-tipped bill, and a gray eye and head; a white patch on the face often extends above and below the eye. Wings are green, spotted with yellow. Pairs skulk at middle levels and in the canopy of montane and gallery forest and plantation edges, seldom joining flocks. The species forages slowly and deliberately, hopping along branches, diligently searching for food. Gray-headed Bushshrike, which prefers savanna, differs from the larger Monteiro’s by having pale yellow eyes and a white facial patch that is restricted to the area between the eye and bill base. Monteiro’s gives a low-pitched extended sorrowful “whhooooooo” song repeatedly, along with various harsh clicks and rasps.
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