Musician Wren Cyphorhinus arada Scientific name definitions

Well named for its highly musical song, produced by both sexes, the Musician Wren is found widely albeit at low densities across Amazonia, from Venezuela and the Guianas in the north, to northern Bolivia in the south. There is considerable geographic variation in plumage, with some of the eight described races having a white postocular stripe and conspicuous white streaks on the rear ear coverts and nape, while there are also striking differences in the overall plumage color of some races, especially to the underparts. Vocal differences are also evident, and a taxonomic revision appears likely. This beautiful wren is found in most primary forest types, including várzea, at least locally, and although primarily a species of the true lowlands, it occasionally ascends as high as 1400 m. The Musician Wren forages mainly on the ground, sometimes following army ant swarms, but is usually seen alone and it does not appear to join mixed-species flocks. The diet largely consists of invertebrates, but some fruit is also taken.

12·5 cm; 18–24 g. Nominate race has forehead and forecrown rufous, becoming chestnut-brown on rear crown; postocular supercilium pale buff narrowly bordered blackish; postocular stripe chestnut-brown, ear-coverts orange-brown, broad brownish-black collar with conspicuous longitudinal white streaks across shoulders and upper back; lower back and rump colder, less reddish-brown, than head; primaries and secondaries medium brown with narrow darker brown bars; rectrices medium brown with narrow darker brown bars; chin, throat and upper chest bright orange-brown, sharply separated from pale buff lower chest and belly; flanks and lower belly medium ochraceous-brown; eye brown; bill greyish-black above, greyish with whitish base below; legs brown or greyish-black. Sexes similar. Juvenile is similar to adult, may have indistinct barring on lower belly. Race <em>urbanoi</em> has collar, but is paler above and below than nominate; faroensis has very conspicuous white streaks on shoulders; transfluvialis is smaller and paler than nominate; <em>salvini</em> very dark, lacks streaked collar, has uniform brown auriculars and cheeks; modulator is closest to previous, but with more extensive supercilium, lighter upperparts; <em>interpositus</em> also lacks collar, has brownish-grey (not rufous) auriculars; griseolateralis has collar reduced in extent compared with nominate, is greyer below.

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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.

Lower levels of humid forest ; in várzea in Brazil. Mostly sea-level to 500 m; occasionally to 1000 m, rarely to 1400 m, in Venezuela.

Apparently sedentary.

Mostly invertebrates ; recorded prey items include caterpillars, beetles (Coleoptera), spiders (Araneae), millipedes (Diplopoda) and Crustacea. Berries also eaten. Usually found in pairs or family parties; does not usually associate with other species in mixed flocks, but occasionally follows ant swarms. Forages mostly on or near the ground, among debris and in leaf litter.

Song , produced antiphonally by both sexes, is a series of clear, haunting whistles, varying greatly in pitch, the same phrase repeated many times with minor variation before switching to different motif, often interspersed with lower gurgling sounds. Call a harsh “churk”.

Season quite protracted; eggs in Jul in Guyana, and fledged young in late Jul and nest with small young in Sept in Suriname. Nest roughly spherical, funnel-shaped neck with large entrance hole, made of leaf skeletons and coarse grass, lined with a few large feathers, usually supported across branch. Eggs 2, pure matt white. No other information.

Not globally threatened. Generally uncommon to fairly common over its sizeable range. Although much of its habitat has been destroyed or rendered unsuitable, large areas remain over much of its range. Occurs in a number of protected areas, including Manu National Park and Biosphere Reserve, in Peru.