The Yungas antwren or ashy antwren is a bird species in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia and Peru.
Region
Andes Mountains
Typical Environment
Occurs in the Yungas of Bolivia and adjacent Peru on the humid east slope of the Andes. It favors dense understory of evergreen montane forest, especially tangles, viney thickets, and stands of bamboo (Chusquea/Guadua). It also uses forest edges and second growth near mature forest. Typically keeps low, from near ground level up to the mid-understory.
Altitude Range
600–2000 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A small antbird of the humid Andean foothills, the Yungas antwren is often first detected by its thin, sibilant song from dense understory. It frequently forages in pairs and joins mixed-species flocks, especially in bamboo thickets. Males are mostly ashy-gray while females are warmer brown, making sexing in the field straightforward with good views.
Temperament
shy and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family groups and regularly associates with mixed-species flocks in the understory. Nests are small cups placed low in dense vegetation. Pairs maintain small territories, communicating with soft calls and duets in the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a thin, high-pitched series of sibilant notes or a soft trill that can be hard to localize in dense foliage. Calls are sharp chips and tss notes given while foraging.
Plumage
Male is predominantly ashy-gray with darker wings and two pale wingbars; underparts are gray and fairly uniform. Female is warmer brown above with buffy to grayish underparts and paler wingbars; both sexes show clean, fine-textured plumage suited to dense understory.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods including insects and spiders gleaned from leaves, twigs, and bamboo culms. Often picks prey from the undersides of foliage and occasionally makes short sallies to snatch disturbed insects. Not a dedicated ant-swarm follower, but may opportunistically take flushed prey.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense, shaded understory, especially bamboo and vine tangles along forest edges and gaps. Works methodically at low to mid-levels where cover is thick.
