Spot-crowned Antvireo

The Spot-crowned Antvireo, a diminutive bird of the Thamnophilidae family, presents a charming appearance with its length ranging from 10 to 12 cm and a weight of 15 to 17 grams. The males are adorned with a dark gray forehead, crown, and nape, speckled with white spots, while the females boast a rufous crown and nape with dark spots.

Identification Tips

To identify the Spot-crowned Antvireo, look for the male's distinctive white-spotted dark gray crown and the female's rufous crown. Both sexes have a white throat with dark streaks and an olive-gray to ochraceous tinge on the sides and undertail coverts.

Habitat

This species thrives in the understory to mid-story of evergreen forests, preferring the lowlands and foothills.

Distribution

The Spot-crowned Antvireo graces the regions from Cahuita in Costa Rica, through Panama, and into Colombia and northwestern Ecuador.

Behaviour

Year-round residents, these birds are often seen foraging in pairs or family groups, sometimes joining mixed-species feeding flocks.

Song & calls

The song of the Spot-crowned Antvireo is a rapid trill with a slight rise and fall in pitch, while its calls include a short descending 'chirr'.

Breeding

Breeding occurs between April and July in Panama, with nest-building observed in late August in Colombia. The nest is a cup shape, suspended from a branch fork.

Diet and Feeding

Primarily insectivorous, the Spot-crowned Antvireo also consumes other arthropods such as spiders. It forages by gleaning from foliage or making short sallies to pluck prey from leaves.

Conservation status

The IUCN has classified the Spot-crowned Antvireo as Least Concern, with a large range and no immediate threats identified, though the population is believed to be decreasing.