Bird Guide

Grey Antwren vs Long-winged Antwren

Grey Antwren (Myrmotherula menetriesii)

Grey Antwren

Myrmotherula menetriesii

Tiny9 gForest

The grey antwren is 8.5 to 10.5 cm (3.3 to 4.1 in) long and weighs 8 to 9 g (0.28 to 0.32 oz). It is a smallish bird with a short tail. Adult males of the nominate subspecies M. m. menetriesii are almost entirely bluish gray, with lighter underparts than upperparts. Their wing coverts have white tips and a black bar just above them. Their tail feathers have narrow white tips. The center of their throat and upper breast are black, sometimes with gray tips on the throat feathers. Adult females have olive-tinged gray upperparts with somewhat darker wings. Voice: The grey antwren's song in Brazil is described as an "ascending series of 6-8 eerie, two-syllabled 'wueeih' notes". In Ecuador it is "a wavering series of 10-12 'ree' or 'shree' notes that rise in pitch and accelerate a bit". The species' calls are "multi-noted include higher-pitched abrupt notes and lower, slightly longer ones in varying combinations"; all are delivered rapidly.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Grey Antwren
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Song · Pastaza: Churunalpi, 5 km N Canelos, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Vincent A. Vos · CC BY 4.0
Long-winged Antwren (Myrmotherula longipennis)

Long-winged Antwren

Myrmotherula longipennis

Tiny9 gForest

The long-winged antwren is 9 to 10.5 cm (3.5 to 4.1 in) long and weighs 8 to 10 g (0.28 to 0.35 oz). It is a smallish bird with a short tail. Adult males of the nominate subspecies M. l. longipennis have dark gray upperparts with a hidden white patch between the shoulders and white tips on the scapulars. Their wings are dark gray with white-tipped black coverts. Their tail is gray with white tips on the feathers. Their throat and upper breast are black; the rest of their underparts are a paler gray than the upperparts. Voice: The songs of the long-winged antwren subspecies differ, though the differences between adjoining ones are slight to moderate. The nominate subspecies' song is "a series of harsh upslurred notes...initially gains in intensity but nearly constant in pitch and pace" like "high, nasal 'suee' notes". The songs of M. l. zimmeri and M. l. garbei are "a deliberate series...

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the Long-winged Antwren
Recorded by Niels Krabbe · Call · Pastaza: Churunalpi, 5 km N Canelos, Ecuador · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Michael Bakker Paiva · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Grey Antwren and Long-winged Antwren.