View source for Spot-winged antbird

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2024}}
{{Distinguish|spot-winged antshrike}}

{{Speciesbox
| image = Schistocichla leucostigma.jpg
| image2 =Schistocichla_leucostigma_-_Ecuador.jpg<!--originally misidentified as a Xiphorhynchus ocellatus, hence the file-name -->
| image2_caption = Male (above) and female (below)
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2017 |title=Spot-winged Antbird ''Myrmelastes leucostigma'' |volume=2017 |page=e.T22736153A118545978 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22736153A118545978.en |access-date=29 July 2024}}</ref>
| genus = Myrmelastes
| species = leucostigma
| authority = ([[August von Pelzeln|Pelzeln]], 1868)
| synonyms = 
*''Percnostola leucostigma''
*''Schistocichla leucostigma''
| range_map = Myrmelastes leucostigma map.svg
}}
[[File:Schistocichla leucostigma - Spot-winged Antbird XC248822.mp3|thumb|Schistocichla leucostigma - Spot-winged Antbird]]

The '''spot-winged antbird''' ('''''Myrmelastes leucostigma''''') is a species of [[bird]] in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family [[Thamnophilidae]], the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.<ref name=IOC14.1>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/antbirds/ |title=Antbirds |website=IOC World Bird List |version =v 14.1 | editor1-last=Gill | editor1-first=Frank | editor1-link=Frank Gill (ornithologist) | editor2-last=Donsker | editor2-first=David | editor3-last=Rasmussen | editor3-first=Pamela | editor3-link=Pamela Rasmussen |date=January 2024 |access-date=4 January 2024 }}</ref>

==Taxonomy and systematics==

The spot-winged antbird has a complicated taxonomic history. It was [[species description|described]] by the Austrian ornithologist [[August von Pelzeln]] in 1868 and given the binomial name ''Percnostola leucostigma''.<ref>{{ cite book | last=von Pelzeln | first=August  | author-link=August von Pelzeln | year=1868 | title=Zur Ornithologie Brasiliens : Resultate von Johann Natterers Reisen in den Jahren 1817 bis 1835 | volume=Part 2 | language=German | place=Wien  | publisher=A. Pichler's Witwe & Sohn | pages=86, 160–161 | url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2941252 }}</ref> Later authors placed it successively in genera ''[[Sclateria]]'' and ''[[Schistocichla]]''.<ref name=SACClist>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 27 July 2024. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved July 28, 2024</ref> A 2013 study finalized its move to genus ''[[Myrmelastes]]''.<ref>Isler, M.L., Bravo, G.A. and Brumfield, R.T. (2013). Taxonomic revision of ''Myrmeciza'' (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) into 12 genera based on phylogenetic, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data. Zootaxa 3717(4): 469–497.</ref>

As of 2024, the spot-winged antbird had these four [[subspecies]]:

*''M. l. subplumbeus'' <small>([[Philip Sclater|Sclater, PL]] & [[Osbert Salvin|Salvin]], 1880)</small>
*''M. l. leucostigma'' <small>([[August von Pelzeln|Pelzeln]], 1868)</small>
*''M. l. intensus'' <small>([[John T. Zimmer|Zimmer, JT]], 1927)</small>
*''M. l. infuscatus'' <small>([[W. E. Clyde Todd|Todd]], 1927)</small>

What are now the [[Humaita antbird]] (''M. humaythae''), [[brownish-headed antbird]] (''M. brunneiceps''), [[rufous-faced antbird]] (''M. rufifacies''), and [[Roraiman antbird]] (''M. saturatus'') were formerly treated as additional subspecies. They were separated from the spot-winged and each other primarily because of their very different vocalizations.<ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Braun | first1=M.J. | last2=Isler | first2=M.L. | last3=Isler | first3=P.R. | last4=Bates  | first4=J.M. | last5=Robbins | first5=M.B. | year=2005 | title=Avian speciation in the Pantepui: the case of the Roraiman Antbird (''Percnostola'' [''Schistocichla''] "''leucostigma''" ''saturata'') | journal=Condor | volume=107 | issue=2 | pages=327–341 | doi=10.1650/7647 | hdl=1808/19238 | s2cid=15452230 | hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{ cite journal | last1=Isler | first1=M.L. | last2=Isler | first2=P.R. | last3=Whitney  | first3=B.M. | last4=Zimmer | first4=K.J. | year=2007 | title=Species limits in the "''Schistocichla''" complex of ''Percnosticla'' antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae) | journal=Wilson Journal of Ornithology  | volume=119 | issue=1 | pages=53–70 | doi=10.1676/05-121.1 | s2cid=84340283 | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/240841 }}</ref>

==Description==

The spot-winged antbird is {{convert|14|to|16|cm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and weighs {{convert|20|to|28.5|g|oz|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}. Males of the [[nominate subspecies]] ''M. l. leucostigma'' have dark gray upperparts. Their wings and tail are blackish gray with wide white tips on the wing [[covert]]s. Their face, throat, and underparts are pale gray to gray; their sides and belly are the darker parts. Females have a dark gray crown and dark cinnamon-brown upperparts. Their wings and tail are blackish brown with pale cinnamon-rufous tips on the wing coverts. Their face is gray. Their throat and belly are pale tawny and their flanks and undertail coverts olive-brown. Both sexes have pinkish legs and feet.<ref name=SWAB-BOW>Zimmer, K., M.L. Isler, and G. M. Kirwan (2020). Spot-winged Antbird (''Myrmelastes leucostigma''), 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.spwant3.01 retrieved July 29, 2024</ref><ref name=Hilty>{{cite book | last =Hilty | first =Steven L. | title =Birds of Venezuela | publisher =Princeton University Press | edition =second | date =2003 | location =Princeton NJ | pages =Plate 41 | language =English }}</ref><ref name=vanPerlo>{{cite book | last =van Perlo | first = Ber| title =A Field Guide to the Birds of Brazil | publisher =Oxford University Press | date =2009 | location =New York | pages =256–257 | isbn =978-0-19-530155-7 }}</ref>

Males of subspecies ''M. l. subplumbeus'' have underparts almost as dark as their upperparts and smaller white tips on their wing coverts than the nominate. Females' throat and underparts are rufous-brown. Both sexes have bluish gray legs and feet. Males of ''M. l. intensus'' are similar to ''subplumbeus'' males but overall darker. Females have a blackish crown and deep brown upperparts. Males of ''M. l. infuscatus'' is similar to the nominate but with smaller spots on the wing coverts. Females have a brownish olive face. Both sexes have bluish gray legs and feet.<ref name=SWAB-BOW/><ref name=Hilty/><ref name=vanPerlo/><ref name=McMullan>{{cite book | last1 =McMullan | first1 =Miles | last2 =Donegan | first2 =Thomas M. | last3 =Quevedo | first3 =Alonso |  title = Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia | publisher = Fundación ProAves| date =2010 | location =Bogotá | pages =137  |isbn =978-0-9827615-0-2 }}</ref><ref name=Ridgely2>{{cite book | last =Ridgely | first =Robert S. | last2 =Greenfield | first2 =Paul J. | title =The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide | publisher =Cornell University Press | volume = II| date =2001 | location =Ithaca | pages =422–423 | isbn =978-0-8014-8721-7 }}</ref><ref name=Schulenberg>Schulenberg, T.S., D.F. Stotz, D.F. Lane, J.P. O’Neill, and T.A. Parker III. 2010. ''Birds of Peru''. Revised and updated edition. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. Plate 171.</ref>{{overcite|date=October 2024}}

==Distribution and habitat==

The subspecies of the spot-winged antbird are found thus:<ref name=SWAB-BOW/><ref name=Hilty/><ref name=vanPerlo/><ref name=McMullan/><ref name=Ridgely2/><ref name=Schulenberg/>{{overcite|date=October 2024}}

*''M. l. subplumbeus'': southwestern [[Táchira]] state in extreme western Venezuela south along the eastern base of the Andes through Colombia and Ecuador into northeastern Peru as far as southern [[Department of Loreto]] and east just into western Brazil's [[Amazonas (Brazilian state)|Amazonas]] and [[Acre (state)|Acre]] states
*''M. l. leucostigma'': from extreme eastern [[Bolívar (state)|Bolívar]] state in eastern Venezuela east through the Guianas and northeastern Brazil to the Atlantic in [[Amapá]] state
*''M. l. intensus'': central Peru's [[Department of Huánuco|Huánuco]], [[Department of Pasco|Pasco]], [[Department of Junín|Junín]], and [[Department of Ucayali|Ucayali]] departments
*''M. l. infuscatus'': southwestern [[Amazonas (Venezuelan state)|Amazonas]] state in southern Venezuela, eastern Colombia, and northwestern Brazil north of the [[upper Amazon]] 

Some sources add extreme northwestern Bolivia to the range of ''intensus''<ref name=IUCN/><ref name=SWAB-BOW/><ref name=Hilty/> but the South American Classification Committee of the [[American Ornithological Society]] has no records from that country<ref name=SACCcountries>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 27 July 2024. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved July 28, 2024</ref><!-- -->.

The spot-winged antbird primarily inhabits the floor and understorey of ''[[Forest#Tropical moist|terra firme]]'' [[evergreen forest]]. Especially at lower elevations, within the forest it favors poorly drained areas and areas along small watercourses. In elevation it reaches {{convert|700|m|ft|abbr=on}} in Brazil, {{convert|400|m|ft|abbr=on}} in Venezuela, {{convert|1100|m|ft|abbr=on}} in Colombia, and {{convert|1650|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}} in Peru. In Ecuador it mostly occurs below {{convert|600|m|ft|abbr=on}} but locally reaches {{convert|1100|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=SWAB-BOW/><ref name=Hilty/><ref name=vanPerlo/><ref name=McMullan/><ref name=Ridgely2/><ref name=Schulenberg/>{{overcite|date=October 2024}}

==Behavior==

===Movement===

The spot-winged antbird is believed to be a year-round resident throughout its range.<ref name=SWAB-BOW/>

===Feeding===

The spot-winged antbird's diet has not been detailed but is known to be mostly insects and [[arachnid]]s and also include small lizards. It forages as individuals, pairs, and small family groups and mostly within about {{convert|1|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} of the ground and only rarely with [[mixed-species feeding flock]]s. It hops along the ground and among low branches, and takes prey mostly by picking from leaf litter and by reaching to leaves and twigs from the ground or a low perch. It regularly attends [[army ant]] swarms to capture prey disturbed by the ants, though more often forages away from ants.<ref name=SWAB-BOW/><ref name=Hilty/><ref name=McMullan/><ref name=Ridgely2/>{{overcite|date=October 2024}}

===Breeding===

The spot-winged antbird's breeding season has not been fully defined but apparently includes October in French Guiana, January in Brazil, and February in Venezuela. In Ecuador it appears to span from March to October. Its only known nest was at least partly constructed of small rootlets.<ref name=SWAB-BOW/>

{{birdsong|url=https://xeno-canto.org/species/Myrmelastes-leucostigmas |species=the spot-winged antbird}}
===Vocalization===

Subspecies ''M. l. intensus'' of the spot-winged antbird sings "a rapid, fairly even-paced series of ringing notes: ''pi’i’i’i’i’i’I’I’I’i’i’i’i’i’i’i’i''".<ref name=Schulenberg/> The song's pitch and pace slightly decrease at the end. The other subspecies' songs are similar, mostly differing in how much the song's end changes.<ref name=SWAB-BOW/><ref name=Ridgely2/> The species' calls include a "long, downslurred, typically frequency-modulated whistle", an "abrupt unclear note given singly or in series of 2–5", and a "short rattle".<ref name=SWAB-BOW/>

==Status==

The [[IUCN]]  has assessed the spot-winged antbird as being of Least Concern. It has a large range; its population size is not known and is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified.<ref name=IUCN/> It is considered fairly common in Venezuela, fairly common in Colombia, "scarce" in Ecuador, and fairly common in Peru.<ref name=SWAB-BOW/><ref name=Hilty/><ref name=McMullan/><ref name=Ridgely2/><ref name=Schulenberg/>{{overcite|date=October 2024}} Its range includes many protected areas and "[r]egions inhabited by species also encompass extensive areas of intact habitat which are not formally protected, but seem unlikely to be threatened by development in the near future".<ref name=SWAB-BOW/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons-inline}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1267009}}

[[Category:Myrmelastes|spot-winged antbird]]
[[Category:Birds of the Amazon rainforest]]
[[Category:Birds of the Colombian Amazon]]
[[Category:Birds of the Venezuelan Amazon]]
[[Category:Birds of the Ecuadorian Amazon]]
[[Category:Birds of Peruvian Amazonia]]
[[Category:Birds of the Guiana Shield]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1868|spot-winged antbird]]
[[Category:Taxa named by August von Pelzeln]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]