Chattering Gnatwren
NameChattering Gnatwren
Common NameChattering Gnatwren
Scientific NameRamphocaenus melanurus
FamilyPolioptilidae
Wingspan (cm)16
Length (cm)11.5
Weight (g)7
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are olive-brown, often with a rufous wash on the crown and nape. Underparts are whitish, sometimes with a buffy wash on the flanks. It has a pale supercilium and a dark eye-line. The tail is dark with white tips on the outer rectrices. The bill is long, thin, and slightly upturned, dark above and paler below.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its rapid, dry, rattling or chattering calls, often given in a series. It also produces thin, high-pitched whistles or trills.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidespread in the Neotropics, from southern Mexico through Central America and across much of northern and central South America, extending south to northern Bolivia and southeastern Brazil.
Identifying FeaturesVery small size, Long, thin, slightly upturned bill, Olive-brown upperparts with whitish underparts, Dark tail with white tips on outer feathers, Active, restless foraging in dense undergrowth, Characteristic chattering vocalizations
Description
A very small, slender bird characterized by its long, thin, slightly upturned bill and active foraging behavior. It typically gleans insects from the dense understory of tropical forests, often holding its tail cocked.
