Slaty Antwren

The Slaty Antwren, Myrmotherula schisticolor, is a diminutive passerine, a member of the Thamnophilidae family, known colloquially as the "typical antbirds." This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males and females donning distinct plumage. The males are primarily dark gray with a concealed white patch between the shoulders, while the females sport grayish olive upperparts with a tawny-tinged cinnamon underbelly.

Identification Tips

Adult males of the nominate subspecies are characterized by their dark gray plumage and a hidden white patch on their back. Their tails and wings are similarly dark gray, with white edging and tips respectively. The throat and upper breast are black, transitioning to dark gray with whitish tips on the crissum. Females, on the other hand, have grayish olive upperparts, a browner tail, and wings with rufous edges on the coverts. Their throats are pale cinnamon, sides and flanks olive-brown, and the rest of the underparts are a tawny-tinged cinnamon that fades into yellowish brown on the crissum.

Habitat

The Slaty Antwren is found in a variety of moist forested landscapes, often at higher elevations than its congeners. It is typically associated with foothill and montane evergreen forests, particularly cloudforests, as well as secondary woodlands. It can also be found in semi-humid forests along certain slopes.

Distribution

This species has a disjunct distribution from Mexico through Central America and into South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It is most commonly found in regions such as Chiapas, the Caribbean slope of Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia's Western Andes, and the Pacific slope of Ecuador.

Behaviour

The Slaty Antwren is a year-round resident within its range. It forages actively, often joining mixed-species feeding flocks, and is known to pursue insects and spiders with agility, gleaning leaves and chasing prey to the ground when dislodged.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Slaty Antwren includes an upslurred whistle 'wheet', downslurred nasal whines, and sharp 'chip' notes that can be delivered singly or in a rapid twitter.

Breeding

While the breeding season appears to vary geographically, it includes months such as March through July in Costa Rica and January and February in Venezuela. The nest is a deep cup suspended from branches, with a clutch size of two eggs. Both parents share incubation duties, and the fledging period is approximately nine days.

Similar Species

The Slaty Antwren shares morphological and behavioral similarities with the Rio Suno Antwren and Salvadori's Antwren, suggesting a close evolutionary relationship.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Slaty Antwren is believed to be composed mainly of insects and spiders. It forages at various heights, from the ground up to 12 meters, and has been observed following army ant swarms on occasion.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has classified the Slaty Antwren as Least Concern. Despite a large range and a substantial population, there is a concern for habitat loss due to human activities, particularly in the foothill and middle-elevation slopes where this species thrives.