Sincora Antwren Formicivora grantsaui Scientific name definitions

Only recently described, from the interior of Bahia, in northeast Brazil, the Sincora Antwren is morphologically similar to the far more widespread Rusty-backed Antwren (Formicivora rufa), but is very different in respect of its vocalizations, including both the song and calls. The Sincora Antwren is restricted to elevations between 800 and 1100 m of the Serra do Sincorá in the Chapada Diamantina, where it is found in campos rupestres (rocky montane scrub), and it differs from Rusty-backed Antwren in having darker and less rufous upperparts, less yellow on the flanks, and the underwing coverts are grey and white, rather than pure white. The species’ scientific name commemorates the German-born naturalist Rolf Grantsau who collected a specimen in 1965 that was recently identified as Sincora Antwren.

12–13 cm; 8·5–11·5 g. Male is rather deep brown dorsally and on wings and flanks, latter duller and paler; also duller and broadly greyer on forehead, brighter on mantle and scapulars, where there may be a chestnut tinge; black face and underparts demarcated by white supercilium which continues as white stripe running down sides of the neck and belly; posterior belly and vent grey; upperwing-coverts black with white terminal spots, remiges dark brownish-grey with narrow brown fringes on outer webs; tail feathers grey and black with large white tips, except for narrow white tips on central feathers; underwing-coverts grey and white; iris dark brown; narrow bare orbital skin greyish-black; bill black; legs dark plumbeous grey, soles yellow. Female lacks black facial mask, is paler brown above , and has side of head, throat and breast whitish with broad black streaks; base of bill bluish-grey. Juvenile apparently undescribed.

Serra do Sincorá on E escarpments of Chapada Diamantina Mts of C Bahia (from Morro do Pai Inácio S to around Mucugê (1 Gonzaga, L.P., Carvalhaes, A.M.P. and Buzzetti, D.R.C. (2007). A new species of Formicivora antwren from the Chapada Diamantina, eastern Brazil (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae). Zootaxa. 1473: 25–38. Close ) ), in E Brazil.

Campo rupestre vegetation, which is low scrub and grasses on nutrient-poor black peat soils on sandstone rocks, at 850–1100 m. Locally sympatric with F. rufa, which inhabits flatter areas with lateritic soils; F. melanogaster recorded in tropical deciduous forest farther N (in Morro do Chapéu region).

No published information. Presumably feeds on arthropods and forages in pairs or in family groups.

Repetitive loudsong similar to that of congeners, but slower. Also has a distinctive two-part alarm call containing more than 2 (rarely only 2) notes; also gives very short and distinctively modulated territorial duet.

ENDANGERED. Restricted-range species: present in Central Brazilian Hills and Tablelands EBA. This antwren was first collected in 1965 (at Igatu), but because of lack of other specimens and supporting biological data it was not described as a new species. Has a very small range, and is known from only four locations in the Serra do Sincorá. Global range is approximately 3600 km², but Area of Occupancy is just 40 km² BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Formicivora grantsaui. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 27/04/2017. . Said to be locally common, its global population remains unknown BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Formicivora grantsaui. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 27/04/2017. . No hard data on population trends, but habitat quality is declining due to an increase in anthropogenic fires and unregulated tourism BirdLife International (2015) Species factsheet: Formicivora grantsaui. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 27/04/2017. . Part of the area within which it has been found is protected by the Chapada Diamantina National Park (IUCN Cat. II; 1521 km²), but fire remains a major permanent threat. Considered Endangered under Brazilian legislation (2 MMA (2014). Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção. Portaria No 444, de 17 de dezembro de 2014. Diário Oficial da União - Seção 1. Nº 245, quinta-feira, 18 de dezembro de 2014. Close ). Assessed globally as Near Threatened until 2016, when it was uplisted to Endangered.