Grey antwren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grey antwren |
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;_Serra_do_Navio,_Amap%C3%A1,_Brazil.jpg) |
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| Male at Serra do Navio, Amapá, Brazil | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myrmotherula
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| Species: |
menetriesii
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The Grey Antwren (Myrmotherula menetriesii) is a small bird that belongs to the "typical antbirds" family, called Thamnophilidae. You can find this bird in many countries in South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
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About the Grey Antwren's Family Tree
The Grey Antwren has five different types, called subspecies. Think of subspecies as slightly different versions of the same animal, often found in different places. These are:
- M. m. pallida
- M. m. cinereiventris
- M. m. menetriesii (this is the main type)
- M. m. berlepschi
- M. m. omissa
What Does the Grey Antwren Look Like?
The Grey Antwren is a small bird, usually about 8.5 to 10.5 centimeters (3.3 to 4.1 inches) long. It weighs around 8 to 9 grams (0.28 to 0.32 ounces), which is about the weight of two quarters! It has a short tail.
Male and Female Grey Antwrens
Adult male Grey Antwrens are mostly bluish-gray. Their belly is a bit lighter than their back. Their wings have white tips with a black stripe just above them. The tips of their tail feathers are white. The center of their throat and upper chest are black.
Adult female Grey Antwrens have grayish upper parts with a hint of olive green. Their wings are a bit darker. Their throat is a light yellowish-brown, and the rest of their belly is a rich olive-brown color. Young birds look like a darker version of the adult female.
Differences in Subspecies
Different subspecies of the Grey Antwren can have slight differences in their colors. For example, some males might be less bluish or have a blackish band on their tail. Females can also vary, with some having more cinnamon-reddish upper parts or yellow-brown bellies.
Where Does the Grey Antwren Live?
The Grey Antwren lives in specific parts of South America, depending on its subspecies.
- M. m. pallida lives in parts of Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
- M. m. cinereiventris is found in southeastern Venezuela, the Guianas, and northeastern Brazil.
- M. m. menetriesii lives in Peru, Bolivia, and southwestern Brazil.
- M. m. berlepschi is found in northern Bolivia and Brazil.
- M. m. omissa lives in Brazil, east from the Tapajós River.
Grey Antwren's Home Environment
These birds prefer to live in the middle and upper parts of tall, wet tropical forests. They can be found from near sea level up to about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) high in some areas. In Colombia, they usually stay below 500 meters (1,600 feet), and in Ecuador, mostly below 600 meters (2,000 feet).
How Does the Grey Antwren Behave?
The Grey Antwren is thought to live in the same area all year round. It doesn't migrate to different places.
What Does the Grey Antwren Eat?
The Grey Antwren mainly eats insects and spiders. It often hunts for food alone, in pairs, or with its family. You'll almost always see it as part of a mixed group of different bird species looking for food together.
It usually searches for food between 6 and 20 meters (20 to 66 feet) above the ground. Sometimes it goes as low as 3 meters (10 feet) or as high as 25 meters (82 feet). It moves very quickly, almost frantically, to find prey. It looks for food mostly on leaves, but also on vines, stems, and branches. It reaches, hangs, lunges, and sometimes flutters up from its perch to catch its meal.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
We don't know everything about when the Grey Antwren breeds, but it seems to be at different times of the year in different places. For example, observations show they breed in February in Colombia and Venezuela, December in French Guiana, and July in Bolivia.
Their nest is like a ball or bundle of dead leaves, built in the fork of a tree branch. We don't know how many eggs they lay, how long the eggs take to hatch, or how long it takes for the young birds to leave the nest. We also don't know much about how the parents care for their babies.
What Does the Grey Antwren Sound Like?
The Grey Antwren's song in Brazil is described as an "eerie" series of 6 to 8 notes that go up in pitch. In Ecuador, its song is a "wavering" series of 10 to 12 notes that also rise in pitch and get a bit faster.
Their calls are made up of many quick notes. These notes can be higher-pitched and short, or lower and slightly longer, mixed together in different ways.
Is the Grey Antwren in Danger?
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the Grey Antwren as a species of "Least Concern." This means they are not currently considered to be in danger of extinction.
The Grey Antwren lives across a very large area. While we don't know exactly how many there are, their numbers are thought to be decreasing. However, no immediate threats have been found. They are considered fairly common to common throughout their habitat. They live in many protected areas, and there are also huge areas of suitable forest that are not formally protected but don't seem to be in danger of being developed anytime soon.
Images for kids
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At Sani Lodge, Ecuador (flash photo)
