White-bellied Wren

The White-bellied Wren, a diminutive bird of the Troglodytidae family, presents a charming appearance with its medium brown crown, upperparts, and tail, the latter adorned with numerous thin dark bars. A subtle reddish hue graces the rump, while a gray-white supercilium, a medium brown postocular stripe, and gray cheeks mottled with brown add to its distinctive visage. The throat, chest, and upper belly are cloaked in gray, transitioning to buff on the flanks and vent area.

Identification Tips

This species measures a modest 9.5 to 10 cm in length, with males typically weighing between 9.8 to 10.5 grams and females slightly lighter at 8 to 9.1 grams. Variations among subspecies may be observed in the intensity of the brown upperparts and the patterning of the tail bars.

Habitat

The White-bellied Wren thrives in a variety of woodland environments, from the semi-arid forests of western Mexico to the humid rainforests of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is particularly fond of thickets dominated by wild pineapple (Bromelia pinguin) in northeastern Mexico.

Distribution

This bird's range is bifurcated, with U. l. pacifica residing in western Mexico from southern Nayarit to Guerrero, while other subspecies inhabit areas from southern Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico down to the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, northern Guatemala, and northern Honduras.

Behaviour

The White-bellied Wren is an active forager, seeking insects and spiders from ground level to considerable heights. In the southern reaches of its range, it is known to join mixed-species flocks in pursuit of army ant swarms.

Song & Calls

The song of the White-bellied Wren is a delightful series of six rapid, undulating notes that descend at the end, with a bubbly quality in the eastern population. Calls include a low 'chek', a scolding chatter, and a hard, dry cracking rattle.

Breeding

Breeding season spans from late March to June. The nest, resembling a chemical retort, is an oval ball with a downward-pointing funnel entrance, woven from fine grass and adorned with lichens and moss. Typically nestled in spiny locales, the clutch generally consists of four eggs, with both parents sharing incubation and feeding duties.

Conservation Status

The IUCN has classified the White-bellied Wren as Least Concern, noting its reasonable commonality across much of its range, tolerance for some habitat disturbance, and presence within several protected areas.