The predicted antwren (Herpsilochmus praedictus) is an insectivorous bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to Amazonian Brazil.[2]
| Predicted antwren | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Thamnophilidae |
| Genus: | Herpsilochmus |
| Species: | H. praedictus
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| Binomial name | |
| Herpsilochmus praedictus Cohn-Haft & Bravo, 2013
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Taxonomy and systematics
editThe predicted antwren was first described in 2013. The name came from field biologists' expectation that a new species of antwren would be found in southwestern Amazonia. Its discovery confirmed the prediction, and genetic and vocal analysis confirmed its identity as a species. Regional and worldwide taxonomic systems quickly recognized it.[3][4][2][5][6]
Description
editThe predicted antwren is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs about 11 g (0.39 oz). Adult males have a black crown and nape, a long whitish supercilium, and a black streak through the eye. The rest of their upperparts are gray with black on the scapulars. Their wings are black with white tips on the coverts and white edges on the flight feathers. Their tail is black with large white feather tips and white edges on the outermost. Their throat is pale creamy white and their breast and belly whitish. Adult females have a rusty forehead and lores, and a black crown with white speckles. Their upperparts are gray. Their throat is a creamier white than the male's.[7]
Distribution and habitat
editThe predicted antwren is found in the southern part of Brazil's Amazonas state, south of the Amazon between the rios Juruá and Madeira. Most of the sightings have been from the eastern half of its range, east of the Rio Purus. It inhabits the mid- to upper levels of humid evergreen forest, principally campinarana on sandy soil and terra firme on clay soils. It also occurs in seasonally flooded igapó but not várzea.[7]
Behavior
editMovement
editThe predicted antwren is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.[7]
Feeding
editThe predicted antwren's diet is known only from the stomach contents of specimens, which were the remains arthropods. It forages singly, in pairs, and in family groups and often as a member of a mixed-species feeding flock. It mostly forages between 5 and 30 m (15 and 100 ft) by gleaning prey from vegetation.[7]
Breeding
editNothing is known about the predicted antwren's breeding biology.[7]
Vocalization
editThe predicted antwren's song is "a soft, purring, rolling trill...which initially rises in frequency...before declining again to a frequency similar to that on which it started". The song is part of the evidence for its treatment as a species, as its pace and the number of repeated notes differ from the songs of visually similar others of its genus. It has two distinctive calls, a "dull 'pwip' " and (more frequently heard) "a short, sharply-descending 'chew', given either singly or in series".[7]
Status
editThe IUCN has assessed the predicted antwren as being of Least Concern. It has a large range and an unknown population size that is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is considered reasonably common and has "a comparatively wide habitat tolerance". Its range "has been subject to comparatively little deforestation and other anthropogenic impacts to date, although these are increasing within the species’ core range".[7]
References
edit- ^ a b BirdLife International (2017). "Predicted Antwren Herpsilochmus praedictus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103657630A119209060. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T103657630A119209060.en. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2024). "Antbirds". IOC World Bird List. v 14.1. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ Cohn-Haft, M.; Bravo, G.A. (2013). "A new species of Herpsilochmus antwren from west of the Rio Madeira in Amazonian Brazil". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D.A. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Special Volume: New Species and Global Index. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 272–276. ISBN 978-84-96553-88-0.
- ^ South American Classification Committee (December 29, 2013). "Proposal (#586) to South American Classification Committee – Recognize newly described Herpsilochmus praedictus". Retrieved February 28, 2024.
- ^ Clements, J. F., P.C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved October 28, 2023
- ^ HBW and BirdLife International (2023). Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 8. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v8_Dec23.zip retrieved December 28, 2023
- ^ a b c d e f g del Hoyo, J., N. Collar, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Predicted Antwren (Herpsilochmus praedictus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.mapant1.01 retrieved February 28, 2024