Roraiman Antwren Herpsilochmus roraimae Scientific name definitions

Described in the early years of the 20th century from Mount Roraima, the Roraiman Antwren is now known to range across the pantepui region from southwest Venezuela to adjacent northernmost Brazil and west-central Guyana. Within this small range it seems to be locally common in the canopy and subcanopy of wet evergreen forest and its borders, including stunted forest atop tepuis. Its plumage is largely typical of the genus Herpsilochmus, and, as is the case with several other species, it is the female Roraiman Antwren that is arguably most distinctive, on account of its white-streaked crown, and pale buffy-colored breast and flanks. This species’ relationships are presently considered unclear, although it has been speculated that its closest relative is the Spot-backed Antwren (Herpsilochmus dorsimaculatus), whose range abuts that of the present species to the south and west.

12–13 cm. Longer tail than all related species. Male has black crown and nape, long pale grey to white supercilium, black loral stripe and postocular stripe; dark grey upperparts with variable black patches, many white feather edges, white interscapular patch, black outer scapulars edged white; wings black, flight-feathers edged white posteriorly, coverts tipped white; tail black, tips white, outer feathers edged white, longer central rectrices with multiple white spots along both webs; throat and underparts grey, with central belly white, underwing-coverts white. Female differs from male in white crown spots, buff-tinged neck side, light buff breast and sides, smaller tail spots. Race kathleenae differs from nominate in female having greyer upperparts, pale grey rather than light buff breast and sides.

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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.

Canopy and subcanopy of humid to wet, evergreen forest and forest borders, at 700–2000 m. Occupies tall forest growing on richer soils on lower and mid-slopes of tepuis; also stunted forest dominated by melastome (Melastoma) on poorer soils near the tops, and occurs regularly at ecotones between latter habitat and brushy savanna at higher elevations.

Presumed resident.

Little published. Feeds on variety of insects, probably also spiders. Closely associated pair-members, individuals, or family groups forage mostly in leafy outer branches and crowns of canopy trees, to 30 m in tall forest, but as low as 3 m in crowns of shrubs and small saplings in stunted melastome forest. Sometimes alone, more often with mixed-species flocks of other insectivores, especially redstarts (Myioborus) and tanagers (Thraupidae). Active forager, working methodically through leafy branches, progressing by short hops, with pauses of 1–2 seconds to scan foliage; also hitches upwards, turning from side to side, along hanging vines in interior portions of canopy. Prey mostly perch-gleaned from live-leaf surfaces (more often tops), sometimes by short, lunging stabs; also sometimes flutter-gleans or hover-gleans from underside of overhanging vegetation and makes occasional short sallies, but seldom employs truly acrobatic manoeuvres in pursuit of prey. Occasionally forages in masses of dead leaves, pulling and picking at curled surfaces. Not known to follow army ants.

Loudsong an uncountable series (e.g. 20 notes, 2·1 seconds) of strident, sharply downslurred notes, flat initially, that decelerates and drops in pitch and intensity at end. Calls include very abrupt “chup” notes, given singly, in pairs and in short series and repeated rapidly, and slightly longer, downslurred “tewp”, also irregularly or in rapid, rattle-like series.

Nothing known.

Not globally threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Tepuis EBA. Locally fairly common throughout its small range. This region includes several large protected areas, such as Canaíma, Duida, La Neblina and Jaua-Sarisariñama National Parks and the Alto Orinoco-Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve, in Venezuela, and Pico da Neblina National Park, in Brazil. Recently, all lands over 800 m and lying S of R Orinoco in Venezuela were declared national monuments, effectively affording all of the tepuis and, hence, most of the range of this species some measure of protection. These remain for the most part “paper reserves”, without effective, on-the-ground protection. Species is considered to be highly sensitivity to human disturbance; amount of intact habitat, however, is vast, and current level of threat from human disturbance is low. Major threats to this ecosystem are from human-caused fires, and illegal gold-mining activities.