Todd's antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Region
Guiana Shield (northern South America)
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland humid forests of northern Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and adjacent southern Venezuela. It favors terra firme and white-sand (campina/campinarana) forests, as well as edges and tall secondary growth. Typically keeps to the lower and mid understory, moving methodically through tangles and viney thickets. It may be locally common in intact forest but becomes scarce in heavily fragmented landscapes.
Altitude Range
0–1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Todd's antwren is a small understory antbird of the Guiana Shield forests, often joining mixed-species flocks. It forages quietly in pairs, gleaning insects from leaves and twigs a few meters above the ground. Males and females are distinctly different in plumage, which helps with identification in dim forest light. It is generally common where suitable lowland rainforest persists.
Temperament
shy and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered in pairs that maintain small territories within the understory. Frequently joins mixed-species flocks led by antwrens and antshrikes, keeping low and moving steadily through foliage. Nest is a small, delicate cup suspended in low vegetation; both parents participate in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a thin, high-pitched series of quick notes or a short accelerating trill that carries softly through the understory. Calls include sharp ticks and high seee notes given while foraging with mixed flocks.
Plumage
Compact antwren with short tail and two clear wingbars; sexes dimorphic. Male is mostly gray with darker face/throat and crisp white wingbars; female is warmer brown-olive above with buffy to ochre underparts and paler face. Both sexes show clean, contrasting wingbars and a neat, fine feather texture typical of understory antwrens.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small arthropods such as ants, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders gleaned from leaves and twigs. Occasionally sallies short distances to snatch flushed prey. It may accompany army-ant swarms opportunistically but is not an obligate ant-follower.
Preferred Environment
Forages 1–6 meters above ground in dense understory, vine tangles, and along forest edges. Often uses semi-open microhabitats within otherwise closed-canopy rainforest, including white-sand forest patches and tall second growth.
