Moustached Antwren

About the Moustached Antwren

The moustached antwren (Myrmotherula ignota) is a species of small Neotropical bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.

The moustached antwren has two subspecies, the nominate M. i. ignota (Griscom, 1929) and M. i. obscura (Zimmer, JT, 1932). M. i. ignota was originally treated as a subspecies of the pygmy antwren (M. brachyura) and later by some authors as a separate species, "Griscom's antwren". What is now M. i. obscura was treated as a monotypic species, the "short-billed antwren". Taxonomists now follow a 2003 publication that combined the two as the moustached antwren, which because of the principle of priority has the binomial Myrmotherula ignota.

The moustached antwren is 7.5 to 8 cm (3.0 to 3.1 in) long. It is a small bird with a tiny tail. Adult males of the nominate subspecies have the eponymous wide black "moustache", a black streak through the eye, and white cheeks. Their crown, back, rump, and tail are black with thin white streaks that are faintly yellow except on the crown. They have a white patch between the shoulders... Wikipedia →