Caatinga Antwren - Herpsilochmus sellowi

Caatinga Antwren Herpsilochmus sellowi

Brazilian name: chorozinho-da-caatinga

Brazil

The Caatinga Antwren has only recently been described by Bret M. Whitney, José Fernando Pacheco, Dante R. C. Buzzetti & Ricardo Parrini, in "Systematic revision and biogeography of the Herpsilochmus pileatus complex, with description of a new species from northeastern Brazil", The Auk 117, 4 (2000): 869-891.

Although individuals had been known for a long time, it was only on publication of this article that it was shown that they had been wrongly identified as Bahia Antwren H. pileatus.

The Caatinga Antwren has a shorter and narrower bill, pale loral area, short postocular streak, and undertail coverts variably buffy. The voice is similar to Bahia Antwren but has twice as many notes and is slightly higher in pitch.

Female Caatinga Antwren, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil, July 2002 - click for larger image

The female, seen here in photos 3 and 4, has yellowish-buff tinge to the underparts and a paler crown.

It is found, not surprisingly, in caatinga habitat.

There are recordings and a distribution map on xeno-canto and additional information is available via Avibase.

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