February 2002
We have had considerable debate about the identification of this bird with some of my colleagues suggesting that it might be Long-billed Wren, T. longirostris.
From a plumage point of view the two species are very similar with the wings and tail barred black, the sides of the head streaked black and white with a narrow white supercilium. Below, the throat is white changing to buff on the breast and rufous on the belly.
Given its range, I opt for the T. l. rufiventris subspecies of Buff-breasted Wren which is found in Minas Gerais while other sub-species, 11 in all, are found from Panama down the east side of the Andes and into south central Brazil.
It is found in forest undergrowth and thickets near water and is more often heard than seen.
There are illustrations in Ridgely & Tudor, Volume 1, Plate 3; Hilty & Brown, Plate 42; and Sick, Plate 38.
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