The Manicore warbling antbird or Manicore antwarbler, is a species of insectivorous bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to Brazil.
Region
South-central Amazon Basin (Brazil)
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Brazilian Amazon on and around the Rio Madeira and nearby tributaries, especially in terra firme forest with dense understory. It favors thickets, vine tangles, and patches of Guadua bamboo, and also uses edges of seasonally flooded forest and second-growth. Birds stay low, typically below 3 m, moving quietly through shaded cover. The range is localized and patchy, largely tied to suitable understory structure. It is generally absent from heavily degraded or open habitats.
Altitude Range
50–400 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Manicoré warbling antbird is a recently described member of the antbird family, confined to a small part of the Brazilian Amazon near the town of Manicoré along the Rio Madeira. Like its close relatives, it is best detected by voice, with males and females often delivering coordinated duets. It keeps to dense understory, where it slips through vine tangles and bamboo thickets. Its subtle plumage differences from related species are most reliably separated by song and range.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically encountered as pairs that maintain small territories year-round in the understory. Pairs often duet, with male and female delivering complementary phrases. Nests are usually low, cup-shaped structures placed in dense cover. It may occasionally shadow mixed-species understory flocks but keeps to cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A fast, musical warble delivered as a clear series of notes, often initiated by the male and answered by the female. Duets can be tightly synchronized, with alternating phrases that accelerate or crescendo. Calls include sharp chips and soft contact notes from concealed perches.
Plumage
Male shows gray to slate upperparts with a darker mask and throat, clean whitish to pale gray underparts, and distinctive white spotting on the wing coverts; females are warmer brown above with buffy to ochre underparts and reduced facial contrast. Both sexes have neat white wing bars or spots and fine barring or spotting on the wings.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small arthropods, including ants, beetles, spiders, and other insects taken from leaves, stems, and dead foliage. It uses short sallies and quick gleaning maneuvers to pick prey from the understory. Foraging is methodical and close to the ground, often within dense bamboo or vine tangles.
Preferred Environment
Understory of terra firme forest, bamboo patches, and dense second-growth thickets. Often along shady stream margins and forest edges where cover is continuous.
