Herpsilochmus atricapillus

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Tyranni
Infraordo: Tyrannides
Parvordo: Thamnophilida

Familia: Thamnophilidae
Genus: Herpsilochmus
Species: Herpsilochmus atricapillus
Name

Herpsilochmus atricapillus Pelzeln, 1868

Type locality: "Porto do Río Paraná" (probably = União), São Paulo, Brazil.

Synonyms

Herpsilochmus pileatus atricapillus Pelzeln, 1868

References

Pelzeln, A. von 1868 (7) – 1870. Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens: Resultate von Johann Natterer Reisen in den Jahren 1817 bis 1835. 462 pp. + 59 tt. + 18 index + map. A. Pichler's Witwe & Sohn,1871. Wien. Abth.I, II: 1868; Abth. III, IV: 1870 Abth.2 p. 80 BHL Reference page. Original description p. 150 BHL

Vernacular names
English: Black-capped Antwren
español: Tiluchí plomizo
português: Chorozinho-de-chapéu-preto

The black-capped antwren (Herpsilochmus atricapillus) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.[2]
Taxonomy and systematics

The black-capped antwren was described by the Austrian ornithologist August von Pelzeln in 1868 and given its current binomial name Herpsilochmus atricapillus.[3] It and the Bahia antwren (H. pileatus) are sister species.[4] The black-capped antwren is monotypic.[2]
Description

The black-capped antwren is 11 to 12 cm (4.3 to 4.7 in) long and weighs 8 to 11 g (0.28 to 0.39 oz). Adult males have a black crown and nape, a long white to pale gray supercilium, and a black streak through the eye. The rest of their upperparts are gray with white-edged blackish scapulars and a white patch between them. Their wings are black with white tips on the coverts and white edges on the flight feathers. Their tail is black with large white feather tips and white edges on the outermost. Their underparts are mostly gray to pale gray with a white belly. Adult females have a buffish forehead and black and white streaked crown. Their upperparts are gray with an olive tinge and their underparts white with a somewhat ochraceous breast and a pale buff tinge elsewhere. Both sexes vary in the darkness and intensity of the colors.[5][6][7]
Distribution and habitat

The black-capped antwren is found from Maranhão and Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil south to Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and extreme western Paraná and São Paulo, and into southeastern Bolivia, the northwestern Argentinian provinces of Jujuy and Salta, and northern and eastern Paraguay. It inhabits all levels of several forest types including deciduous, semi-deciduous, evergreen, and gallery forest. In northeastern Brazil it favors caatinga woodland, semi-deciduous mata-de-cipó, and humid evergreen forest. In elevation it ranges from sea level to 800 m (2,600 ft) in most of its range but reaches 1,450 m (4,800 ft) at the base of the Andes in Bolivia and Argentina.[5][6][7]
Behavior
Movement

The black-capped antwren is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.[5]
Feeding

The black-capped antwren's diet has not been detailed but includes insects and probably spiders. It forages singly, in pairs, and in family groups and frequently as a member of a mixed-species feeding flock. It typically forages between about 7 and 20 m (20 and 70 ft) above the ground but will feed lower at the forest edge. It usually captures prey by gleaning from live foliage, vines, and branches, mostly by reaching or short lunges from a perch. It also often makes short sallies to grab prey. It is not known to follow army ants.[5]
Breeding

Adult black-capped antwrens have been recorded feeding juveniles in Brazil during January and February, but nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.[5]

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to black-capped antwren on xeno-canto
Vocalization

The black-capped antwren's song varies somewhat across its range but is generally "1–2 (rarely 3) distinct notes leading into rapid series (e.g. 24 notes, 2·3 seconds) rising and falling in pitch and slowing, initial notes at same pitch or higher than abrupt notes that follow". It also has a rattle song, "a series of short but complex notes, more rarely a shorter series of simpler notes". Its calls include an "abrupt, sharply downslurred note" and a "longer note that rises and falls in pitch".[5]
Status

The IUCN has assessed the black-capped antwren as being of Least Concern. It has a very large range and an unknown population size that is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is considered fairly common to common across its range and "of medium sensitivity to human disturbance". Its range includes several large protected areas.[5]
References

BirdLife International (2018). "Black-capped Antwren Herpsilochmus atricapillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22701555A130214205. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22701555A130214205.en. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (January 2024). "Antbirds". IOC World Bird List. v 14.1. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
von Pelzeln, August (1868). Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens: Resultate von Johann Natterers Reisen in den Jahren 1817 bis 1835 (in German and Latin). Vol. 2. Wien: A. Pichler's Witwe & Sohn. pp. 80, 150.
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 26 November 2023. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved 27 November 2023
Zimmer, K. and M.L. Isler (2020). Black-capped Antwren (Herpsilochmus atricapillus), version 1.0. 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.blcant2.01 retrieved 27 February 2024
van Perlo, Ber (2009). A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 246–247. ISBN 978-0-19-530155-7.
de la Peña, Martín R.; Rumboll, Maurice (2001). Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica. Princeton Illustrated Checklists. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. pp. plate 67, map 67.5. ISBN 0691090351.