The plain-winged antwren (Myrmotherula behni) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela, and possibly Suriname.

Taxonomy and systematics

The plain-winged antwren has these four subspecies: The plain-winged antwren, the Alagoas antwren (M. snowi), the unicolored antwren (M. unicolor), and the Yungas antwren (M. grisea) appear to form a monophyletic group with similar vocalizations and habitat requirements. The plain-winged antwren's specific epithet honors Wilhelm Friedrich Georg Behn.

Description

The plain-winged antwren is 9 to 9.5 cm long; one female weighed 7.9 g. It is a smallish bird with a short tail. Adult males of the nominate subspecies M. b. behni are almost entirely gray, with lighter underparts than upperparts. Their chin and the center of their throat and upper breast are black. Adult females have olivaceous brown upperparts with a grayish tinge on the crown and nape and a somewhat duskier tail. Their wings are olivaceous brown. Their throat is whitish and the rest of their underparts olive-buff. Males of subspecies M. b. yavii are darker than the nominate. Females have dark olive-buff flanks and crissum. Males of subspecies M. b. camanii are intermediate between the nominate and yavii. Females have somewhat less brown underparts than the nominate. Subspecies M. b. inornata is larger than the nominate. Males are darker with a wider black area on the throat. Females have rufescent brown upperparts and an olivaceous brown crissum.

Distribution and habitat

The plain-winged antwren has a highly disjunct distribution. The subspecies are found thus: The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society has undocumented sight records, presumably of M. b. inornata, in Suriname, and treats the plain-winged antwren as hypothetical in that country. The plain-winged antwren inhabits the understorey to mid-storey of foothill and lower montane evergreen forest. In Ecuador it appears to favor damp ravines with stands of Guadua bamboo. In Venezuela and Brazil it ranges between elevations of 1000 and 1850 m, in Colombia between 1200 and 1800 m, and in Ecuador mostly between 800 and 1600 m.

Behavior

Movement

The plain-winged antwren is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.

Feeding

The plain-winged antwren's diet is not known in detail but is probably mostly mostly insects and spiders. It forages singly, in pairs, or in family groups, and almost always as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. It feeds mostly between about 1 and 3 m above the ground where the understorey is dense, and between 4 and 10 m where it is more open. It actively seeks prey especially among dead leaves and also from live leaves, stems, and branches, mostly by reaching, hanging, lunging, and occasionally by fluttering out from a perch.

Breeding

Nothing is known about the plain-winged antwren's breeding biology.

Vocalization

The plain-winged antwren's song is a "series of high, simple, slightly downslurred 'tiuw' notes". Its calls include "a sharp 'sweeík' and a more nasal 'kyunh' ".

Status

The IUCN has assessed the plain-winged antwren as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified. It is considered rare and local throughout its range and occurs in some protected areas. "More survey work is needed in order better to elucidate the distribution, ecology and conservation needs of this poorly known species."