Band-tailed Antwren Myrmotherula urosticta Scientific name definitions

The Band-tailed Antwren is an east Brazilian endemic, where it is broadly sympatric with the congeneric White-flanked Antwren (Myrmotherula axillaris). The globally Vulnerable Band-tailed Antwren is chiefly identified by virtue of its black tail with a broad white terminal band; females are similar to males, but are paler above. In contrast, the local subspecies of the White-flanked Antwren M. axillaris luctuosa can also show a narrow white tip to the tail, but this is always much less extensive, and males are also much darker overall, with a less contrasting bib. The Band-tailed Antwren is usually encountered in mixed-species flocks, and only inhabits lowland primary and well-developed second growth. Its overall range spans east-central Bahia to extreme northeast Rio de Janeiro, but its heartland is southeast Bahia and northern Espírito Santo.

Coastal E Brazil locally from C Bahia S to N Rio de Janeiro.

Loudsong a deliberate series (e.g. 8 notes, 5·8 seconds) resembling that of race garbei of M. longipennis, except individual notes raspier and rise and fall more evenly, and pitch of entire song does not rise so much. Calls also similar; common call of three notes, series dropping in pitch.

VULNERABLE. Previously listed as Endangered. Restricted-range species: present in Atlantic Forest Lowlands EBA. Uncommon and local, with patchy distribution, within its very small range. Currently known primarily from five protected areas in S Bahia totalling c. 43,000 ha (Monte Pascoal National Park, Una Biological Reserve, Porto Seguro Forest Reserves, and CPEC Gregorio Bondar Reserve), and from Sooretama Biological Reserve and the Linhares Natural Reserve (together totalling c. 46,000 ha) in N Espírito Santo. Significant portions of these reserves encompass habitat not suitable for this species, for which the effective protected area is therefore much smaller than it may seem. Has also been found at Fazenda União, a c. 3000-ha lowland forest located near Rocha Leão, in N Rio de Janeiro, and owned by Rede Ferroviaria Federal S.A. (RFFSA). Although access is restricted, this forest is not officially protected; incorporation of this important forest into the formal reserve system would provide an important protected area for the species at the S end of its range. Surveys to locate additional, unprotected lowland-forest sites with remaining populations of this thamnophilid, followed by acquisition and protection of such lands, are greatly needed, as is continued protection of the integrity of existing reserves.