Foothill Stiplethroat (Epinecrophylla spodionota)

Identification & Behavior: ~10.5 cm (4.1 in). The male Foothill Stiplethroat has gray-brown upperparts. The sides of the head and most of the underparts are gray. The throat is checkered with black and white. The wing coverts are black with white and brown wing bars. The female is mostly brown with blackish wing coverts and brown wing bars. The throat and breast are brown with tawny streaks. In both sexes, the iris is brown. It forages in the upper understory of humid montane forest often with mixed-species flocks. It is similar to the Rufous-backed Stiplethroat but is distinguished by a grayer or darker plumage. a gray-brown back (or mantle), and by ranging at higher elevations on the east slope of the Andes.

Status: The Foothill Stiplethroat (Epinecrophylla spodionota) is uncommon in montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 700-1500 m. It also occurs in Co and Ec.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguerito Submontano.

Sub-species: Foothill Stiplethroat (Epinecrophylla spodionota) (Epinecrophylla spodionota spodionota), (P. L. Sclater and Salvin), 1880.  E Andean slope from S Colombia (Cauca, Caquetá) S to N Peru (Amazonas N of R Marañón).
(Epinecrophylla spodionota sororia), (Berlepsch and Stolzmann), 1894.  E slope in Peru S of R Marañón (San Martín S to Madre de Dios).

Meaning of Name: Epinecrophylla: Gr. Epi= on, nekros= dead and phullon= leaf. In reference to search for insects on dead hanging leaves. spodionota: Gr. Spodios= ash-coloured and notos, noton= backed, back.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae