Bird of the day
Southern nightingale-wren
Microcerculus marginatus
The southern nightingale-wren (Microcerculus marginatus), also known as the scaly-breasted wren, is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
The southern nightingale-wren is 11 cm (4.3 in) long; males weigh 18.2 to 22 g (0.64 to 0.78 oz) and females 17 to 18 g (0.60 to 0.63 oz). Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dull gray-brown face and deep chocolate-brown crown and upperparts with a reddish tinge on the rump. They have a very short dark chocolate tail. Their chin, chest, and upper belly are white with some black scalloping on the sides of the chest. The lower flanks and lower belly are dark chocolate. The juvenile is similar with the addition of darkish barring on the crown and back and dark brown feather tips on the underside.
M. m. squamulatus is similar to the nominate but has scaly markings on the underparts. M. m. taeniatus also has scaly underparts and a more extensive reddish tinge on the upperparts and blackish barring below. M. m. corrasus is also similar to the nominate, but is a purer white below with narrow dark bars. M. m. occidentalis has a longer and thinner bill, darker upperparts and flanks, and broad dark bars on its abdomen. M. m. luscinia's throat is pale gray that becomes brownish gray on the breast and belly.
Aliases
Microcerculus marginatus
Range
