The bar-winged wood wren is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in southern Ecuador and northern Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in the montane forests of southern Ecuador and adjacent northern Peru. It favors mossy cloud forest, elfin forest, and forest edges with dense understory, especially along ridges and ravines. Thickets of bamboo and vine tangles provide cover for foraging and nesting. It tolerates some secondary growth if dense structure is present.
Altitude Range
1800–3200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This small wren skulked in dense Andean understory went largely unnoticed until its distinctive white wing bars and ringing duet songs drew attention. Pairs often sing antiphonally, creating a rich, echoing chorus in cloud-forest ravines. It keeps to thick cover, so most encounters are heard before seen.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found alone or in pairs that defend well-defined territories. Nests are placed low in dense vegetation, often globular with a side entrance. Occasionally associates loosely with mixed-species flocks but usually remains in thick cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Rich, ringing whistles delivered in clear phrases; pairs often duet, alternating notes in rapid succession. Calls include sharp chips and short trills from inside dense understory.
Plumage
Compact wren with brown upperparts, grayish throat and breast, and finely barred flanks. Shows bold white wing bars and a clean whitish supercilium contrasting with a darker, lightly streaked crown. Tail is short and often held cocked; underparts show subtle barring toward the sides.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as insects and spiders gleaned from mossy branches, leaf litter, and tangled vines. Frequently probes bark crevices, bromeliads, and bamboo sheaths. Foraging is methodical, with quick hops and short sallies within a meter or two of the ground.
Preferred Environment
Dense understory of cloud and elfin forests, especially in bamboo and vine tangles along steep slopes and ravines. Often feeds near the forest edge where light supports thick shrub growth.
