White-flanked antwren facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-flanked antwren |
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;_Ramal_do_Noca,_Rio_Branco,_Acre_,_Brazil.jpg) |
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| Male in Acre, Brazil | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Myrmotherula
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| Species: |
axillaris
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The white-flanked antwren (Myrmotherula axillaris) is a small bird that eats insects. It belongs to the antbird family, called Thamnophilidae.
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About This Bird
This bird was first described by a French scientist named Louis Vieillot in 1817. He gave it the scientific name Myrmothera axillaris. Later, another bird called the silvery-flanked antwren was thought to be the same species. But now, scientists know they are different birds.
What Does It Look Like?
The white-flanked antwren is usually about 10.7 centimeters (about 4 inches) long. It weighs around 8.1 grams, which is about the same as two pennies.
- Male Birds: Adult males have dark grey feathers on their backs. Their bellies are black. Their wings are black with white spots that look like bars. The sides of their bodies and the feathers under their wings are white.
- Female Birds and Young Males: Females and young males have brown feathers on their backs. Their bellies are a yellowish-buff color. Their wings are a reddish-brown with faint stripes. Like the males, their sides and underwings are white.
There is a special type of male bird called M. a. melaena. These males are completely black on their backs and bellies. The females of this type are also darker than the usual white-flanked antwren females.
Where Does It Live?
The white-flanked antwren lives in warm, tropical areas. You can find it in Central America and South America. Its home stretches from El Salvador and Honduras in the north, all the way south to the Amazon Basin in Bolivia and southern Brazil. It also lives on the island of Trinidad.
These birds are found throughout the entire Amazon rainforest. They also live in areas near the Tocantins River and Araguaia River in Brazil. You can also see them in the Guyanas (a region in northeastern South America). They live along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. The birds in Central America and the coastal areas are separated from the Amazon birds by the northern Andes mountains.
Life and Habits
The white-flanked antwren is a common bird. It is not very shy and is often found in small groups. It likes to live in both old, untouched forests and forests that are growing back.
Nesting and Reproduction
The female bird lays two white eggs that have purple marks. Both the male and female birds take turns sitting on the eggs. They do this for about 16 days until the eggs hatch. Their nest is a small cup made of plant fibers and dead leaves. They build it low in a tree or a bush.
What It Eats and Its Calls
This bird mainly eats small insects. It also eats other tiny creatures called arthropods. It finds its food on twigs and leaves in the lower parts of trees.
The white-flanked antwren has a special call. It makes a "queep" sound, followed by a trilled "trrrrrr". The M. a. melaena type of antwren has a different call. It makes a two-note sound, "naa-who", and a whistling sound that goes down in pitch, like "pee pee pee-pee-pee-pee-pee-puu-puu". Because these two types of birds look and sound different, some scientists think they might actually be different species.
