Plain-throated Antwren Isleria hauxwelli Scientific name definitions

Widely distributed, principally across southern Amazonia, the diminutive and usually fairly common Plain-throated Antwren occurs from extreme east Amazonian Brazil west to eastern Peru, and north to southeast Colombia, over which range it is exclusively found below 900 m elevation. Whereas males are almost entirely a delicate, pale gray coloration with darker wings and two bold white wingbars, females are tawny-cinnamon below, with a grayer crown and upperparts, and two pale wingbars. It inhabits both terra firme and seasonally flooded areas, but is always found foraging very close to the ground, either alone or in pairs, sometimes following army ant swarms, and occasionally following mixed-species foraging flocks for brief periods through the undergrowth. Given the species’ comparatively skulking behavior, the Plain-throated Antwren is perhaps most easily located by long, rather slowly delivered loudsong.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Loudsong a long, countable series (e.g. 20 notes, 8·4 seconds; duration highly variable) in which initial notes sound more musical and higher-pitched, remaining notes become shorter and more hollow-sounding, first speeding up and then becoming evenly paced. Other vocalizations include abrupt “jit” given irregularly, often doubled; also short (e.g. 0·1 seconds), descending rattle-like call, and a rattle similar to that of I. guttata.