Stripe-chested Antwren (Myrmotherula longicauda)

Identification & Behavior: ~10.5 cm (4.1 in). The male Stripe-chested Antwren has upperparts heavily streaked with black and white. The underparts are white streaked with black on the breast and belly. The throat is white and unmarked. The tail is black tipped with white. The female is brown or rufous streaked with black on the upperparts, head, and breast. It forages in humid montane forests where it is often associated with bamboo patches. It is also very local in northern Amazonia.  It is similar to the Cherrie’s  Antwren but is distinguished by being less streaked on the breast and by having a white throat. The vocalizations of these antwrens are distinctive.

Status: The Stripe-chested Antwren is fairly common in humid montane forests of the east slope of the Andes at elevations ranging between 500-1550 m. It also occurs locally in northern Amazonia. The Stripe-chested Antwren also occurs in Co, Ec, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguerito de Pecho Listado.

Sub-species: Stripe-chested Antwren  (Myrmotherula longicauda pseudoaustralis), Gyldenstolpe, 1930.  E slope of Andes in S Colombia (Putumayo) and N Ecuador (Napo).
(Myrmotherula longicauda longicauda), Berlepsch and Stolzmann, 1894.  C Peru (Junín).
(Myrmotherula longicauda australis), Chapman, 1923.  SE Peru (Cuzco, Madre de Dios, Puno) and NW Bolivia (La Paz, S Beni, Cochabamba).

Meaning of Name: Myrmotherula: Gr. Combination word myrmothera= a genus (Velliot,1916,
antpitta) Myrmotherula= diminutive of Myrmothera. longicauda: L. longus= long and cauda= tail.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae