Streak-headed Antbird Drymophila striaticeps Scientific name definitions

14·5–15·5 cm; 11–13 g. Male has crown and anterior upperparts black, streaked white, back streaks tinged rufous, white interscapular patch, rump deep rufous; wings black, flight-feathers edged rufous, coverts tipped white; graduated tail blackish grey, white tips; head-sides and throat down to lower breast white, heavily streaked black, belly white, flanks and undertail-coverts rufous. Distinguished from similar D. devillei by pale streaks on back tinged rufous, longer and paler tail lacking intermediate spots, streaked throat, more heavily streaked anterior underparts. Female differs from male in having crown streaks cinnamon-rufous, other pale markings above (except on tail) light rufous-buff rather than white, black areas duller, no interscapular patch, underside tinged rufous-buff, and flanks paler.

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W & C Andes of Colombia, Ecuador (both slopes), Peru (E slope) and NW Bolivia (E slope in La Paz).

Understorey and midstorey of bamboo thickets (both native and introduced Asian species) in montane evergreen forest and secondary forest, mainly from 1200 m to 2500 m; as low as 750 m in Ecuador, and as high as 3150 m in Colombia. Also away from bamboo in vine tangles, shrubby forest borders, and overgrown coffee fincas. Although less restricted to bamboo than are most congeners, is found more frequently in it than away from it.

Feeds on variety of insects, probably also spiders; stomach contents included lepidopteran larvae and a small beetle (Coleoptera). Closely associated pair-members, individuals, or family groups forage mostly 1–15 m above ground; alone or, sometimes, with mixed-species flocks as these pass through its territory. Active forager , progressing by short hops, with pauses of 1–3 seconds between movements to scan for prey. In most areas, forages primarily in bamboo, hitching from side to side up vertical stems to crowns, where bamboo foliage, vines and upper branches of understorey trees form interlacing mats or sprays of foliage; also in densely foliaged shrubs, thickets and hillside stands of bracken-fern. Perch-gleans most prey from live and dead bamboo foliage, stem surfaces, nodes and clusters of spines, by reaching up, out or down with quick stabs of the bill, or by short, horizontal lunges; frequently jump-gleans or makes short (less than 30 cm) fluttering sallies to underside of overhanging vegetation; when gleaning from bamboo leaves or from broad-leaved plants, most often takes items from undersurface. Not known to follow army ants.

Typical male loudsong lasts c. 2 seconds (or less) and comprises two short clear whistles followed by two long raspy notes, but number of each, also shape, length and quality of notes, vary regionally and individually, e.g. “tchip!, tchip! djzzew-djzzew-djzzew-djzzew; typical female loudsong a short series of whistles dropping in pitch, sometimes terminating in harsh note, lasting c. 2 seconds, e.g. “tchip, tchip, tew-tew-tew”. Calls include high-pitched (e.g. 5 kHz) short-note or long-note whistles, the first typically given in groups of two or three notes, each note lasting just 0·05 seconds, with intervals of 0·1 seconds between notes, but usually given singly in W & C Andes of Colombia, and the second type are typically uttered singly, occasionally doubled and apparently only exceptionally in trios of notes.

Nest only comparatively recently described, based on observations in NE Ecuador in early Aug, when the contents comprised two nestlings. Structure was a cup, suspended c. 2 m above ground between leafy branches of a single node of a 5-m long, strongly arched bamboo; thin layer of live, green moss attached to the outside, plus a few skeletonised broad dicot leaves on the outside, while cup and inner lining primarily comprised thin leaf sheaths of bamboo; it was 8·6 cm tall (plus a 6·1 cm long tail of moss dangling from the base), the outside rim was 7·2 cm wide, and the cup was 5·8 cm deep and 5·1 cm in diameter. The two young were generally fed every 1–8 minutes, by both adults, occasionally at intervals of up to 22 minutes (mean number of feeds c. 8 per hour), with the male provisioning the slight majority (61% of feeding visits), and both sexes removing faecal sacs. The nest was eventually attacked by a Plain-tailed Wren (Pheugopedius euophrys), causing both young (which were probably close to fledging) to jump out. Only other information appears to be an observation of a fledgling in SE Ecuador in Nov.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common but locally distributed throughout range. Occurs in several protected areas, e.g. Munchique National Park, Río Blanco and La Planada Nature Reserves, in Colombia, and Manu Biosphere Reserve, SE Peru. The ability of this species to utilize some second-growth habitats may render it less vulnerable than other members of the genus.