White-flanked Antwren
Myrmotherula axillaris
The White-flanked Antwren (Myrmotherula axillaris) is a uncommon antbirds, antshrikes, antwrens, and antvireo found in 14 countries, weighing about 8 g. The white-flanked antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds".
About the White-flanked Antwren
The white-flanked antwren is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found from Honduras to Panama in Central America, in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and on Trinidad.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The white-flanked antwren is 9 to 10.5 cm (3.5 to 4.1 in) long and weighs 5 to 10.6 g (0.18 to 0.37 oz) with some variation in weight among the subspecies. It is a smallish bird with a short tail. Adult males of the nominate subspecies M. a. axillaris have a dark gray head, neck, back, and rump with a hidden white patch between the shoulders. Their tail is blackish with white tips to the feathers. Their wings are blackish with white tips on the coverts and gray edges on the flight feathers. Voice: The white-flanked antwren's song differs among the subspecies. That of M. a. axillaris, M. a. heterozyga, and M. a. fresnayana is "a rapid uncountable series of abrupt notes, somewhat low-pitched...dropping sharply in pitch and gaining in intensity at beginning, then more or less levelling". Its pace varies somewhat across its area. The song of M. a. albigula and M. a.
What the White-flanked Antwren sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
The White-flanked Antwren can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a White-flanked Antwren?
- The white-flanked antwren is 9 to 10.5 cm (3.5 to 4.1 in) long and weighs 5 to 10.6 g (0.18 to 0.37 oz) with some variation in weight among the subspecies. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a White-flanked Antwren?
- The White-flanked Antwren is a tiny sized bird weighing about 8 g.
- Where can you see a White-flanked Antwren?
- The White-flanked Antwren occurs in 14 countries, including Panama, Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador.
- What does a White-flanked Antwren sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the White-flanked Antwren on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a White-flanked Antwren?
- The White-flanked Antwren is most easily confused with the Slaty Antwren, the Pygmy Antwren and the Pacific Antwren.
Learn the White-flanked Antwren for real
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