White-lored antpitta

Taxonomy and systematics

The white-lored antpitta was originally described in 1858 as Grallaria fulviventris. It was later transferred to genus Hylopezus and still later to Myrmothera.

The white-lored antpitta has two subspecies, the nominate M. f. fulviventris (Sclater, PL, 1858) and M. f. caquetae (Chapman, 1923). What is now the thicket antpitta (M. dives) was previously a third subspecies of it, with the combined species called the "fulvous-bellied antpitta".

Description

The white-lored antpitta is 14 to long; three individuals weighed between 44 and. The subspecies have the same plumage as do the sexes. Adults have a white loral patch and a white triangle behind their eye. Their crown, nape, and ear coverts are dark slaty gray. Their upperparts, wings, and tail are dark olive-brown. Their throat is white with a black line from the bill through it. Their breast and sides are buffy ochraceous with dusky streaks, their belly white, and their flanks and crissum orange-rufous. They have a dark brown iris, a blackish bill with a pale base to the mandible, and pinkish legs and feet.

Distribution and habitat

The white-lored antpitta is a bird of the far western Amazon Basin. The nominate subspecies is found in eastern Ecuador and northern Peru north of the Amazon and Marañón rivers. Subspecies M. f. caquetae is found adjoining the nominate's range in the southern Colombian departments of Putumayo and Caquetá. The species inhabits the edges of terra firme and *várzea * forest, riparian forest, and overgrown openings in the forest interior. It is almost exclusively found under and within very dense undergrowth. In elevation it occurs up to 400 m in Colombia and to 750 m in Ecuador.

Behavior

Movement

The white-lored antpitta is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.

Feeding

The white-lored antpitta's diet has not been reported. It is usually seen singly as it forages while hopping and walking on the forest floor and downed logs.

Breeding

Nothing is known about the white-lored antpitta's breeding biology.

Vocalization

The male white-lored antpitta's song is "a short slow series of 3-4 abrupt and hollow notes, e.g. 'kwoh-kwoh-kwoh-kwoh' ". It also "gives a faster and accelerating series of shorter notes, 'kow-kow-kow-kow-ko-ko-ko-ko-ko-ko-ko' ". The white-lored antpitta sings throughout the day, usually from a perch within 2 m of the ground.

Status

The IUCN has assessed the white-lored antpitta as being of Least Concern. Its population size is not known and is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. It is considered "uncommon and seemingly local" in Colombia, "uncommon" in Ecuador, and "uncommon and local" in Peru. It is known from at least three protected areas.

References

References

1. BirdLife International. (2018). "White-lored Antpitta ''Hylopezus fulviventris''".
2. (August 2024). "Antthrushes, antpittas, gnateaters, tapaculos, crescentchests".
3. Sclater, P.L.. (1858). "Grallaria fulviventris, sp. nov.". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.
4. Lowery, G.H., and J.P. O'Neill. 1969. A new species of antpitta from Peru and a revision of the subfamily Grallariinae. Auk 86: 1-12.
5. Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, G. Del-Rio, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 27 July 2024. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved July 28, 2024
6. Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2021). White-lored Antpitta (''Myrmothera fulviventris''), version 1.1. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.whlant2.01.1 retrieved September 15, 2024
7. "Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia". Fundación ProAves. (2010)
8. Ridgely, Robert S.. (2001). "The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide". Cornell University Press.
9. Schulenberg, T.S., D.F. Stotz, D.F. Lane, J.P. O'Neill, and T.A. Parker III. 2010. ''Birds of Peru''. Revised and updated edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Plate 181