Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis Scientific name definitions

The Plain Antvireo is widely distributed across the neotropics where it is found from southeastern Mexico south to Bolivia in the western portion of its range, and from northeast Brazil to Paraguay in the eastern portion of its range.  Males of the nominate race have a dark gray crown, grayish-olive upperparts with a white breast and a yellow center of the belly. Females have a chestnut crown and more olive upperparts. The eighteen recognized subspecies of Plain Antvireo all differ slightly in their coloration, with most subspecies appearing grayer in the males and browner in the females than the nominate race.

The northern and Andian populations of the Plain Antvireo usually occupy the understory and mid-story levels of humid, lower and montane evergreen forest. Populations in the eastern and southern portions of their range prefer moist terra firma and várzea forest . Plain Antvireos can be found in pairs or as members of mixed species flocks foraging near the ground 4 to 5 meters up. These birds are primarily perch gleaners, but they also make short sallies to glean items from nearby foliage or hover to snag prey from the underside of leaves. Both male and female Plain Antvireos take part in incubating their eggs. It has been observed that females generally incubate the eggs during the night, and that males generally incubate the eggs during the day.

10–13 cm; 12·5–14·5 g (sep­tentrionalis), 14–16 g (extremus, tambillanus), 13–15 g (olivaceus, tavarae), 12–14 g (andrei, affinis, emiliae), 11–13 g (mentalis). Male nominate race has forehead and crown dark grey, auriculars blackish; upperparts greyish-olive, concealed white interscapular patch; remiges, greater wing-coverts and tail dark greyish-olive, flight-feathers edged olive, greater coverts tipped white, tail narrowly tipped white; lesser and median coverts blackish, medians tipped white; throat and upper breast white, spotted light grey, sides olive-grey, centre of belly yellow, mixed with pale grey on lower breast, flanks and crissum. Female differs from male in having crown cinnamon-tawny, upperparts and wings more olive (less grey), wing-covert tips and remex edgings olive-yellow, no white interscapular patch, yellow below more extensive. Races differ from nominate mainly in colour tones, most being greyer in male and browner in female: viridis, cumbreanus and emiliae resemble nominate; septentrionalis male is greyer with belly yellowish, female browner throughout; suffusus resembles previous but slightly paler; affinis is somewhat paler than last with belly centre white, female warm brown above; andrei is slightly darker grey and female duller brown than previous; oberi resembles last, female yellower below; extremus male has blackish crown; semicinereus has almost pure grey upperparts barely tinged olive, tail greyer, auriculars hardly darker than crown, throat and underparts grey, breast darker, belly centre white, lower belly and flanks light grey with faint yellow tinge, female crown more tawny, less grey above, wings and tail edged clay colour, throat tinged light olive-brown, breastband light olive-brown, contrasting white belly becoming pale yellowish-olive posteriorly, sides and flanks olive; spodionotus is darker than last, female warm ochraceous with white throat and belly; ptaritepui and tavarae are rather similar to last but less dark; olivaceus resembles previous but slightly more olive; napensis is paler than previous, has grey breastband; tambillanus is very like last; aequatorialis is much paler below than previous, belly pale yellow, flanks tinged grey, dark auriculars more contrasting.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

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.

In N of range and in Andes occupies understorey and mid-storey of humid, foothill and lower montane evergreen forest and nearby tall second growth, in some regions (e.g W Ecuador, C Bolivia) extending to deciduous and semi-deciduous forest; generally at 600–2500 m, but to sea-level in some regions. In E & S found from sea-level to 1200 m: in moist terra firme and várzea forest and dry savanna forest in NE Brazil (emiliae), elsewhere in dry savanna forest, older second growth, semi-deciduous and viny forest, and gallery forest; also humid Atlantic forest (mentalis). Found at both forest edge and in interior. Replaces D. puncticeps at higher elevations in NW (Costa Rica S to W Ecuador).

None recorded; presumed resident throughout its range.

Feeds on variety of insects, including adult and larval lepidopterans and beetles (Coleoptera), katydids (Tettigoniidae), true bugs (Hemiptera) and ants (Formicidae); also other arthropods, such as spiders. Observed also to feed on berries of mistletoe (Rapanea). Typically encountered as closely associated pair-members or as individuals, often with mixed-species flocks of woodcreepers (Dendrocolaptidae), foliage-gleaners (Furnariidae), antwrens, and greenlets (Hylophilus), but frequently independent of flocks. Forages from near ground to 4–5 m up, occasionally higher, rarely to lower canopy; constantly flicks both wings slightly as it forages. Moves are separated by long pauses to scan nearby surfaces; then jumps or sallies out in explosive flits to attack prey or to move to a new perch. Primarily a generalized perch-gleaner, taking prey directly from both surfaces of live leaves (mostly), vines (often) and thin branches, occasionally from dead leaves; less frequently, but regularly, makes short sallies to glean items from substrates, or hover-gleans from undersides of leaves. Often forages by hopping upwards through vines where these present, and sometimes visits the ground to feed among roots and piles of branches. Occasionally follows swarms of army ants (both Eciton burchelli and Labidus praedator) for brief periods.

A short (e.g. 2 seconds) series starting with a few (e.g. 4) evenly paced, countable notes at same pitch, notes then gradually becoming more abrupt and dropping in pitch, ending in accelerating roll. Calls include nasal, musical note, and distinctive short (e.g. 6 notes), rapid series of gradually rising notes. Vocal differences among races remain to be studied.

Feb–Jul in Costa Rica, Apr–Jul in Trinidad, Nov in SE Brazil and Nov in N Argentina. Additional nest and egg descriptions from Colombia, Tobago and Paraguay. Nest a deep, thin-walled cup of dark fibrous roots, fungal filaments and/or herbaceous materials, exterior almost always at least partially covered with green moss, strands of which often extend as a sort of hanging “tail”, and suspended by rim typically from horizontal fork of shrub or small tree 0·6–2·5 m above ground. Normal clutch 2 eggs, dull white (or pale cinnamon in SE Brazil), with purple or purplish-brown (brown in Tobago) spots and lines, usually heaviest at larger end; up to three replacement nests recorded, ringed female in Trinidad incubating on second nest only 12–15 days after clutch disappeared from first, and laid in third nest 26–28 days after loss of eggs in second; incubation 15 days, by both sexes during day; chick hatches naked, nestling period 9–10 days in Costa Rica; both sexes, when flushed from nest, drop straight to ground and engage in fluttering distraction displays, wings spread to reveal contrasting marginal coverts and outer webs of outer scapulars. A female in Trinidad documented as nesting 8 years after having been ringed as an adult.

Not globally threatened. Generally fairly common throughout its extensive range. Occurs in several protected areas. In some areas, continuing deforestation could ultimately threaten some races. Survival rate in small remnant forest patches in SE Brazil has been found to be uneven, and appears to be adversely affected by selective logging.