Rufous-backed Stiplethroat (Epinecrophylla haematonota)

Identification & Behavior: ~11 cm (4.3 in). The male Rufous-backed Stiplethroat has brown upperparts with a reddish-rufous back (mantle). The sides of the head and rest 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 black wing covers and brown wing bars. The throat is whitish streaked with black. The back (mantle) is also reddish-rufous.  In both sexes, the iris is gray. It forages in the upper understory and midstory of the forest in Amazonia often with mixed-species flock. It is similar to the White-eyed Stiplethroat but is distinguished by having a reddish-rufous back. Also, see Foothill Stiplethroat.

Status: The Rufous-backed Stiplethroat is uncommon in northern Amazonia but becomes rare and local towards the southern part of Amazonia in Peru. It appears not to range as far west as the foothill of the Andes. The Rufous-backed Stiplethroat also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguerito de Garganta Punteada.

Sub-species: Rufous-backed Stiplethroat (Epinecrophylla haematonota pyrrhonota), (P. L. Sclater and Salvin), 1873.  SE Colombia (near base of Andes S from Meta, and E Vaupés), S Venezuela (Amazonas, Bolívar E to R Caroní drainage), extreme NE Ecuador (Sucumbios), NE Peru (Loreto N of R Napo and R Amazon) and NW Brazil (R Negro drainage and N Roraima).
(Epinecrophylla haematonota haematonota), (P. L. Sclater), 1857.  E Peru S of R Napo and Amazon (Loreto S to Madre de Dios) and W Brazil (extreme SW Amazonas, Acre).

Meaning of Name: Epinecrophylla: Gr. Epi= on, nekros= dead and phullon= leaf. In reference to search for insects on dead hanging leaves. haematonota: Gr. haima, haimatos= blood and notos, noton= backed, back.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae