Dot-winged Antwren (Microrhopias quixensis)

Identification & Behavior: ~12 cm (4.7 in). The male Dot-winged Antwren is jet black with large dots on the wing covers, which form wing bars. The female is variable. All forms have black upperparts and dotted white wing bars. The underparts vary from all chestnut (intercedens and albicauda), to all chestnut with black throat (quixensis), to chestnut only on the breast (nigriventris). Both sexes have a graduated tail with feathers broadly tipped with white. It forages often in pairs at forest edges and second growth. The male is similar to a male White-flanked Antwren but is distinguished by a black plumage and longer tail broadly tipped with white. The combination of a chestnut belly and tail broadly tipped with white is unique. It does not enter the forest interior.

Status: The Dot-winged Antwren is uncommon and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1400 m along the east slope of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguerito de Ala Punteada.

Sub-species: Dot-winged Antwren (Microrhopias quixensis quixensis), (Cornalia), 1849.  S Colombia (Putumayo, Caquetá), E Ecuador and NE Peru (N Loreto N of R Marañón and R Amazon).
(Microrhopias quixensis intercedens), J. T. Zimmer, 1932.   lowlands of C Peru (S of R Amazon and along both banks of R Ucayali) and SW Amazonian Brazil (E to R Madeira).
(Microrhopias quixensis nigriventris Carriker), 1930. E slope and base of Andes in C Peru (San Martín S to N Cuzco).
(Microrhopias quixensis albicauda), Carriker, 1932.  SE Peru (S Cuzco, SE Ucayali, Madre de Dios, Puno) and adjacent N Bolivia (Pando).

Meaning of Name: Microrhopias: Gr. Mikros= Little and genus Rhopias Cabanis, 1859. One that resembles a small member of the genus Rhopias. quixensis: In reference to Río Quixos (= Río Quijos), Napo-Pastaza, Ecuador.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae