Cherrie's Antwren

About the Cherrie's Antwren

Cherrie's antwren (Myrmotherula cherriei) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. Cherrie's antwren is monotypic. Its closest relative is believed to be the Pacific antwren (M. pacifica).

The species' English name and specific epithet honor the American naturalist, explorer, and adventurer George Cherrie. Dr. Cherrie accompanied former President Theodore Roosevelt in the famous 1913 exploration of the River of Doubt, in the Brazilian Amazon basin, which was later named Rio Roosevelt.

Cherrie's antwren is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in) long and weighs 7.5 to 9 g (0.26 to 0.32 oz). It is a smallish bird with a tiny tail. Adult males have a black and white streaked face. Their crown, back, and rump are black with white streaks. They have a narrow white patch between the shoulders. Their tail is black with white edges and tips to the feathers. Their wings are black with white tips on the coverts and white edges on the flight feathers. Their throat, breast, and belly are white and their flanks and crissum grayer. Black streaks extend... Wikipedia →