White-browed Warbler Myiothlypis leucoblephara Scientific name definitions

This warbler is sometimes known as the White-rimmed Warbler. Both names point out that the face pattern is distinctive, in particular the eyes are adorned by crisp white crescents above and below; the “rims” on the eyes. In fact its Scientific Name means white eyelids, the name White-rimmed is a better one that White-browed. Although a warbler of subdued coloration, it is a rather attractive species. It has a grey head with its white rims, a short dark eyeline and short pale supercilium, and then white throat and underparts with grey flanks; but above the upperparts are a vivid grass green that glows in the dull light of the forest floor, the bright orange-pink legs also help to set this warbler off. It is a species of riparian forests, so it is seldom far from water. It has a curious habit of wagging or spreading the tail, and it keeps to the ground or low understory. The most spectacular aspect of this bird is the sweet and gorgeous song. It is a slow delivery of sweet whistled notes that speed up, and drop in pitch in an attractive, cascading cadence that is very distinctive and memorable once heard.

14·5 cm; 14–21 g. Like most others in “Phaeothlypis group”, constantly spreads and raises tail, lowering it slowly, and frequently moves it from side to side. Nominate race has grey head with blackish-grey lateral crownstripe and narrow eyestripe, and white supraloral stripe and prominent eye-crescents ; upperparts olive-green; malar area and throat and underparts whitish, narrow greyish malar stripe, grey wash on side of breast, olive wash on upper flanks , light olivaceous-yellow undertail-coverts  ; iris dark; bill blackish; legs orange-flesh. Differs from M. leucophrys in lack of prominent white supercilium, less pronounced dark eyestripe, grey (not buff) ear-coverts, greener upperparts. Sexes similar. Juvenile  undescribed. Race lemurum is noticeably darker than nominate, especially on underparts (mid-grey with whitish median line), and undertail-coverts are grey with pale yellow feather fringes.

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Dense forest, especially gallery forest, and well-developed second growth with dense understorey, to 1600 m. Often found near rivers or pools, but not so closely associated with water as are M. leucophrys, M. fulvicauda and M. rivularis.

Probably feeds mainly, if not entirely, on invertebrates  ; main items recorded in NE Argentina were Cuculiondiae (weevils) and other Coleoptera, while a more detailed study, based on faecal samples, in Minas Gerais, SE Brazil, recorded small quantities of Blattodea, Dermaptera, Psocoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera, insect eggs and larvae, Araneae, Pseudoscorpiones, Diplopoda and unidentified vegetable matter in diet, while most important constituents were Formicidae (c. 21%), other Hymenoptera (c. 24%) and Coleoptera (c. 40%) (2 Manhães, M.A., Dias, M.M. and Lima, A.L.C. (2015). Feeding resource partitioning between two understorey insectivorous birds in a fragment of Neotropical cloud forest. Braz. J. Biol.. 75(Suppl. 1): 176–183. Close ). Forages by gleaning, on or near ground , frequently in dense undergrowth, but also in the open. Seldom joins mixed-species foraging flocks.

Song a series of descending musical whistled notes, accelerating towards end; usual call a sharp penetrating “pseeyk”.

Pair generally remains on territory throughout year. Few nests found, most a domed structure; recently, one found in Brazil was described as an open cup, and suggested that situation of this nest (on a bank and partially concealed by vegetation) may have prompted this variation in shape (this is the only non-domed nest of this genus so far discovered) (3 Firme, D.H., Silveira, G.H.A., Silveira, A.L., Nascimento, J.R. and Raposo, M.A. (2009). Variation in nest shape of a White-browed Warbler Basileuterus leucoblepharus. Cotinga 31: 121-123. Close ). Clutch 3–4 eggs  . No other information.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Fairly common to common. No population estimates available.