<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='359667'>Star-throated Antwren

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En bref

  • Scientific Name: Myrmotherula gularis
  • Spanish Name: Hormiguerito estrellado
  • Family: Thamnophilidae
  • Known Nicknames: Star-throated Antwren
  • Average Length: 9–10 cm / 3.5–3.9 in
  • Average Weight: 8–10 g / 0.28–0.35 oz
  • Envergure : N/A
  • Key Feature: Male has a black throat with white spots forming a star-like pattern
  • Régime alimentaire principal : Insectivore
  • Range: Southeastern Brazil (eastern Bahia to Santa Catarina)
  • Habitat: Humid lowland and montane Atlantic Forest understory
  • Social Structure: Often in mixed-species foraging flocks
  • Nesting/Breeding: Small cup nest placed in a fork of a tree branch
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Star-throated Antwren (*Myrmotherula gularis*) is a diminutive yet dazzling inhabitant of the Amazonian understory, instantly recognizable by its most striking feature: a male’s throat adorned with a brilliant patch of jet-black feathers, densely speckled with crisp white spots that resemble a miniature night sky. This small, active bird—typically measuring just 9–10 cm—sports a primarily gray upper body and whitish underparts, with the female lacking the starry throat but displaying a warm buffy wash. A master of mixed-species foraging flocks, it uses its thin, pointed bill to glean insects and spiders from curled leaves and bark, often hanging upside-down like a tiny acrobat. Its special adaptation includes a loud, distinctive song—a rapid, high-pitched trill—that stands out against the dense foliage, making it easier to locate than its cryptic coloration might suggest.

Faits amusants

Despite its name, the male Star-throated Antwren's black throat is actually marked with tiny white spots, not stars, and this pattern becomes more vivid during aggressive encounters, where they flare their throat feathers in a display of "starry" intimidation. They are relentless followers of army ant swarms, but unlike many antbirds, they rarely eat the ants themselves; instead, they snatch up insects and spiders panicking in the ants' path, often hovering briefly like a hummingbird to pluck prey from leaves. Their most quirky adaptation is a bizarre, high-pitched "squeaky toy" call used by both sexes to coordinate movements through dense bamboo, a sound so un-birdlike it can fool experienced ornithologists into searching for a hidden mammal.

Habitats et répartition

The Star-throated Antwren inhabits humid lowland and foothill forests, primarily within the Amazon basin. It is most often found in terra firme forests that are not seasonally flooded, as well as in adjacent várzea and igapó forests near rivers and streams. This species prefers the dense, shaded understory and midstory of mature forest, rarely venturing into open areas or forest edges. Its geographical range spans across southern Venezuela, the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana), and central and eastern Amazonian Brazil, extending south into northeastern Peru and northern Bolivia.

Comportements & Reproduction

The Star-throated Antwren is typically observed in monogamous pairs that defend small territories within humid lowland forests. Its social structure is simple, with pairs foraging together in mixed-species flocks but maintaining exclusive bonds. During courtship, the male performs a distinctive display, raising his throat feathers to expose the namesake star-like pattern while delivering a rapid, high-pitched song. Nesting is a cooperative effort: both sexes build a deep, cup-shaped nest suspended from thin branches, often concealed in dense foliage near water. Females lay two white eggs with brown speckles, and both parents share incubation duties for roughly 14 days. A unique reproductive strategy involves the pair frequently reusing the same nest site across multiple breeding attempts within a season, reinforcing site fidelity. After fledging, the young remain dependent on both parents for several weeks, with the male often taking primary feeding responsibility while the female prepares a new nest.

Alimentation

The Star-throated Antwren (Myrmotherula gularis) is an insectivorous bird that forages almost exclusively for a variety of small arthropods, with a particular emphasis on spiders, beetles, caterpillars, and orthopterans. It typically feeds in the dense understory and midstory of humid forests, using a methodical gleaning technique to pluck prey from the undersides of leaves and branches, often while hanging upside down. An interesting dietary fact is that it regularly follows mixed-species foraging flocks, taking advantage of insects flushed by larger, more aggressive birds like antbirds or woodcreepers. Additionally, despite its name, it does not actually follow army ants for food, a behavior common in some other antwrens; instead, it relies on active searching and joining these temporary flocks to maximize its foraging efficiency.

Couleurs

The male Star-throated Antwren is predominantly gray with a black throat and upper breast, marked by a dense pattern of small white spots, while the female is warmer olive-brown above with a pale buffy throat and breast, both sexes having a short white eyebrow stripe and white wing bars. Its most unique feature is the male’s star-like white spotting on the black throat, which likely serves as a social signal rather than camouflage, though the overall gray and brown plumage blends well with the dappled light of its understory forest habitat.

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