Imeri Warbling-Antbird Hypocnemis flavescens Scientific name definitions

Imeri Warbling-Antbird is confined to a relatively small area in extreme northwest Amazonia, being distributed across southwest Venezuela, eastern Colombia, and far northwest Brazil, which range conforms to the so-called Imeri Center of Endemism, hence the English name. It seems to occur parapatrically with Guianan Warbling-Antbird (Hypocnemis cantator) in southeast Venezuela. This habits of this antbird seems typical of the species complex as a whole, being usually found in reasonably close-knit pairs, more occasionally in family groups or alone, and sometimes within mixed-species understory flocks. Imeri Warbling-Antbird inhabits both terra firme and seasonally flooded forests.

11–12 cm; 11·1–15 g. Typical member of the H. cantator species group; for distinctive characters from other species therein see Taxonomy (above). Most importantly, present species differs from H. cantator (with which it is locally parapatric on or adjacent to the Macizo de Chimantá, in SE Venezuela) in its yellow-tinged, rather than white, throat and breast, less heavily streaked chest , and deeper rufous flanks and belly; and from H. peruviana in its white, rather than black-streaked, throat and breast, olive-ochre, instead of chestnut, scapulars and wing fringes, ochre vs, rufous flanks and equivalently shaded tail.

S Venezuela (W & S Bolívar, Amazonas), extreme NW Amazonian Brazil (upper R Negro drainage and N & C Roraima) and EC Colombia (Guainía, Vaupés, E Caquetá).

Inhabits edges and treefall gaps, usually with many vines and dense vegetation, at edge of both evergreen terra firme and várzea forests, as well as around shrubby borders of savanna woodland and taller second-growth forest, even thickets alongside creeks and swamps, or other wet areas. Mainly in lowlands below c. 600 m, at least locally perhaps higher.

No detailed published studies of diet or foraging behaviour specific to this taxon, but most aspects of foraging behaviour probably very similar to those of the formerly conspecific H. cantator (which see). Contents of stomachs of five specimens (from far SW Venezuela) comprised beetles and their larvae. Regularly attends army-ant swarms (records from Venezuela, Colombia), both of Eciton burchelli and of Labidus praedator, but often for short periods of time, with individuals leaving and then circling back later; when “professional” ant-following species in attendance, it sticks to periphery of swarms, taking most prey by perch-gleans or short sallies to vegetation.

For general characteristics of male and female loudsongs, plus calls, see relevant section of account for H. cantator, and for main differences in vocalizations of present species compared to other taxa in the complex, see Taxonomy (above). Male loudsong, rendered “tew, tew-tzew-tzew-tur paw, paw” is like those of H. peruviana and H. subflava in that it decelerates, but the shapes of initial notes show a narrow frequency range, whereas through the central portion they become broader, frequency-modulated and downslurred, and end in distinctive long, burry and downslurred notes. Female loudsong (higher-pitched and shorter than that of male) is apparently identical to that of H. cantator, H. peruviana and H. subflava. The common call never includes raspy terminal notes, and instead consists of a medium-to-long, clear note followed by 3–9 abrupt, sharply downslurred notes usually starting at a higher frequency than the first note, e.g. “wur-tew…” or “wur-tew-tew…”; the abrupt notes typically maintain the same shape and frequency range, but shorten as the series accelerates, while in longer calls of 4+ notes, the abrupt notes also usually drop in intensity toward the end; calls of males appear more rapid than those of females and, occasionally, female calls are just three or even two notes and are slowed to the point where they were similar to those of other species. Also gives abrupt “chit” calls, with no obvious differences from other taxa in the H. cantator complex.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common to common throughout most of its extensive range. Known from a number of protected areas throughout the species’ range, including Chiribiquete National Park, in Colombia, as well as Duida-Marahuaca, Yapacana, Jaua-Sarisariñama and Parima-Tapirapecó National Parks.