The slaty antwren is a small passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found from Mexico south through Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Region
Mesoamerica and Andean foothills
Typical Environment
Occurs from southern Mexico through Central America into the Andean foothills of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and northern Peru. It inhabits humid evergreen forest, mature secondary forest, and edges with dense vine tangles. Most activity is in the lower to mid understory, typically from near ground level to a few meters up. Often present in mixed flocks that move through dark, tangled thickets. Sensitive to extensive forest clearing but persists in well-vegetated secondary growth.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny antbird of dense understory, the slaty antwren is often detected by its thin, trilling song rather than seen. It frequently forages in pairs and joins mixed-species flocks, gleaning small arthropods from leaves and vines. Although it may attend army-ant swarms, it is not an obligate ant follower. Males are uniformly slaty-gray, a helpful field mark in shadowy forest.
Temperament
shy and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups and commonly joins mixed-species understory flocks. Nests are small suspended cups placed low in dense vegetation. Pairs maintain territories and communicate with soft calls while foraging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a thin, rapid, metallic trill that accelerates slightly, carrying softly through dense foliage. Calls include high, lisping notes and short chips given during flocking and foraging.
Plumage
Male is uniform slaty-gray with darker wings and tail and usually faint whitish wingbars; female is olive-brown above with warm buffy underparts and pale wingbars. Both sexes have fine, compact plumage suited to maneuvering in dense understory.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as insects and spiders. Forages by gleaning from leaves and twigs, hover-gleaning, and making short sallies to pick prey from foliage. Occasionally follows army-ant swarms to snatch flushed invertebrates but does so opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understory and vine tangles of humid forest and well-vegetated second growth. Most foraging occurs from near ground level up to about 3 meters within shaded thickets.
