The yellow-throated antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Region
Northwestern Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland humid rainforest of Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, primarily in the upper Negro and adjacent drainages. It favors dense understory and vine tangles along river edges, in terra firme forest, and in seasonally flooded várzea. Birds generally keep within a few meters of the ground to mid-understory, moving methodically through foliage. It tolerates lightly disturbed forest edges but is most numerous in intact forest.
Altitude Range
0–600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small understory antbird, the yellow-throated antwren keeps to dense, shaded thickets where it is more often heard than seen. It frequently joins mixed-species flocks and occasionally attends army-ant swarms to snatch flushed arthropods. The species shows subtle sexual dimorphism and is largely sedentary within the northwestern Amazon.
Temperament
shy and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups and commonly integrates into mixed-species foraging flocks. Nests are likely small cups placed low in dense vegetation. Territories are defended with soft calls and song from within cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a soft, thin series of high-pitched notes or a short trill delivered from concealed perches. Calls include sharp chips and sibilant tsits used to keep contact within pairs and flocks.
Plumage
Compact antwren with contrasting yellow throat set against darker, dusky-olive to gray upperparts and paler underparts. Feathers are smooth and sleek rather than fluffy, giving a neat, trim appearance.
Diet
Primarily consumes small arthropods such as ants, beetles, spiders, and caterpillars. It gleans prey from leaves, twigs, and vine tangles, often making short sallies to pick insects from foliage. The species sometimes attends army-ant swarms to take flushed prey but more often forages independently or with mixed flocks.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the shaded understory of mature and secondary rainforest, especially along river margins and dense thickets. It keeps to 1–6 meters above the ground, moving methodically through tangles and sapling clusters.
