The rufous-rumped antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Euchrepomidinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Central America and Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Central America (Costa Rica and western Panama) south through the foothills and montane slopes of the Northern Andes in Colombia and Ecuador, reaching locally into northern Peru and western Venezuela. It favors humid foothill and lower montane forests, including edges and mature second growth. Most foraging is in the midstory to canopy, where it moves quickly through dense foliage. It is typically absent from lowland Amazonian forests and dry habitats.
Altitude Range
300–1600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small canopy-dwelling antbird, the rufous-rumped antwren often travels with mixed-species flocks, gleaning tiny insects from leaves and twigs. Despite the family name, it does not typically follow army ants. The rufous rump is most conspicuous when it flicks or fans its tail. Males and females differ subtly in tone, with females typically warmer brown above.
Temperament
active and somewhat secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs that maintain small territories and frequently join mixed-species flocks. Forages methodically by gleaning and short sallies among leaves and fine twigs in the midstory and canopy. Nest is a small suspended or cup-like structure placed low to mid-height; both sexes share incubation and care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a fast, high-pitched series of thin notes or trills that accelerates slightly, carrying well in humid forest. Calls include sharp tsee and tzip notes used to maintain contact within pairs and mixed flocks.
Plumage
Compact antwren with a distinct rufous rump and uppertail coverts; upperparts gray to olive-gray in male, warmer brown in female. Subtle pale supercilium and two narrow buffy wingbars are typical. Underparts are pale gray to buffy with fine shading; wings show contrasting edging. Tail often flicked, exposing the rufous rump patch.
Diet
Feeds primarily on tiny arthropods such as caterpillars, small beetles, spiders, and other soft-bodied insects. Prey is picked from leaf surfaces, petioles, and fine branches, and occasionally taken by brief hover-gleaning. It rarely descends to the understory and does not typically follow army ant swarms.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the midstory to canopy of humid foothill and lower montane forest, including forest edges and tall second growth. Often associates with mixed-species flocks where it exploits disturbed insects flushed by other birds.
