Rufous-tailed Stiplethroat (Epinecrophylla erythrura)

Identification & Behavior: ~11 cm (4.3 in). The male Rufous-tailed Stiplethroat has a red-rufous back (mantle). The sides of the head and rest of the underparts are gray. The throat is nearly concolor with the rest of the underparts. The wing coverts are brown with buffy-brown wing bars. The female is similar to the male, also with a red-rufous back, but has rufous-brown underparts. Both sexes have a rufous tail and reddish-brown iris. It forages in the upper understory and midstory of the forest with mixed-species flock. It is similar to the Rufous-backed Stiplethroat but is distinguished by lacking a checkered throat and by having a rufous tail.

Status: The Rufous-tailed Stiplethroat is uncommon in northern Amazonia and along the foothill of the Andes where it is known to range up to 1000 m. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguerito de Cola Rufa.

Sub-species: Rufous-tailed Stiplethroat (Epinecrophylla erythrura erythrura), (P. L. Sclater), 1890. extreme NW Brazil (W bank of upper R Negro), SE Colombia (Meta E to Vaupés and S to Putumayo), E Ecuador and NE Peru (N of R Marañón and R Amazon).
(Epinecrophylla erythrura septentrionalis), (J. T. Zimmer), 1932. E Peru (along the base of Andes S of R Marañón S to Puno) and WC Amazonian Brazil (scattered records from Amazonas S of R Solimões, E to Tefé and middle R Juruá).

Meaning of Name: Epinecrophylla: Gr. Epi= on, nekros= dead and phullon= leaf. In reference to search for insects on dead hanging leaves. erythrura: Gr. Eruthros=red and ouros, oura= tailed, tail.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae