White-fringed Antwren (Formicivora grisea)

Identification & Behavior: ~12.5 cm (9 in). The male White-fringed Antwren has mostly gray upperparts, tail, and flanks. The wing coverts are black tipped with white forming wing bars. The throat, breast, and belly are black bordered by white. The female has brown upperparts and rufous underparts. Both sexes have a long and graduated tail tipped with white dots. It forages in scrub, hedgerows, and scrub islands in pastures. It is similar to the Rusty-backed Antwren but is distinguished by having gray upperparts (male) and rufous underparts (female).

Status: The White-fringed Antwren is known in Peru from sight records and collected specimens in Pampa Juliaca in Pampas del Heath in southeast Peru.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguerito de Pecho Negro.

Sub-species: White-fringed Antwren (Formicivora grisea grisea), Boddaert, 1783.

Meaning of Name: Formicivora L. formica= ant and vorus, vorare= eating, to devour. grisea: L. griseum, griseus or grisius gray.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae