Checker-throated Stipplethroat

The checker-throated stipplethroat, a diminutive bird of the Thamnophilidae family, measures a mere 10 to 11 centimetres in length and tips the scales at a lightweight 8.5 to 11.5 grams. The male is characterized by a predominantly grey visage and a black throat adorned with prominent white spots, while the female sports a more subdued brownish buff face and throat. Both sexes share a grey-brown crown and upperparts, with a contrasting reddish tail. Their wing coverts are tinged with blackish brown to olive-brown and highlighted by yellow-ochre tips, and their flight feathers boast a reddish hue. The breast is cloaked in grey, transitioning to a brownish buff on the underparts, which darken near the vent. The bird's iris is a captivating golden colour that deepens with age, and juveniles possess a grey iris that matures to yellow.

Identification Tips

To identify the checker-throated stipplethroat, look for its distinctive black throat with large white spots in males, and a brownish buff face and throat in females. The reddish tail and yellow-ochre tipped wing coverts are also key features. The bird's small size and golden to yellow iris can aid in its identification.

Habitat

This species thrives in the evergreen forests of the lowlands and foothills, as well as in adjacent mature secondary forests. It has a particular affinity for dense vine tangles that accumulate debris.

Distribution

The checker-throated stipplethroat is native to the Caribbean slope, extending from south-eastern Honduras through Nicaragua and Costa Rica into western Panama. Its range continues on both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes from western Panama into Colombia, eastward into Colombia's Magdalena River valley, and southward through western Colombia and Ecuador, nearing the border with Peru.

Behaviour

The checker-throated stipplethroat is a permanent resident within its range. It forages primarily in the forest understory to mid-story, rarely exceeding 10 meters above ground, although it has been observed feeding as high as 25 meters. It typically forages in pairs or small family groups, often joining mixed-species feeding flocks.

Song & calls

The song of the checker-throated stipplethroat is a series of abrupt, almost staccato notes that may accelerate and intensify initially, then decelerate and fade towards the end. Calls include a fast rattle and a 'peeyk' note.

Breeding

Breeding seasons vary by location, with nesting occurring at any time but predominantly in the rainy season in Panama, between March and August in Costa Rica, and including December in Colombia. The nest is a deep pouch suspended from a thin twig, usually below 2 meters in height. Clutch size is typically two eggs, which are incubated by both parents during the day and by the female alone at night for 18 to 20 days.

Diet and Feeding

The checker-throated stipplethroat's diet consists mainly of arthropods, including cockroaches, crickets, katydids, and spiders. It forages by hitching along thin branches and sifting through vine tangles, foliage, dead leaves, moss clumps, and epiphytes for prey.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the checker-throated stipplethroat as Least Concern. It is considered fairly common within its large range and is present in several protected areas. No immediate threats have been identified, and the continued protection of forests in reserves is expected to maintain viable populations.