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solonavi 13 October 2007 Discovery 140 views No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

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This new species was recently found in eastern Brazil. The bird was captured, studied and its vocalizations were recorded by ornithologists. The data collected from these birds, particularly this species’ vocalizations, have been used to write a formal scientific description of this new species.
Even though this lovely little bird was first observed in 1997, it was not formally described as a new species until now. The Sincorá antwren, Formicivora grantsaui, is a small passerine in the family, Thamnophilidae, which are the typical antbirds. This new species’ binomial name commemorates the German-born naturalist Rolf Grantsau, who originally collected a specimen in 1965 — a specimen that was only just recently identified as being this new species.

According to the authors, the Sincorá antwren is found between 850 and 1,100 meters in elevation in the Serra do Sincorá of the Espinhaço Mountains. This area is in the Chapada Diamantina region in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

These birds are small; weighing between 8.5-11.5 grams. The adult male Sincorá antwren has warm chocolate-brown upperparts and sides (see image at top). The bird’s glossy black face, throat, breast and upper belly are beautifully contrasted with brilliant white. The lower belly and vent are pale silvery-grey. The upperwing-coverts are black with white spots while the underwing-coverts are grey and white. The tail, which is generally held erect, has brilliant white tips, a black subterminal band with charcoal grey base on the ventral side (see figure 8, below) and is a medium grey on the dorsal side (not shown). The bill is black and the feet are grey with yellowish soles.

Adult female Sincorá antwrens are paler brown on their upperparts than the males. They have a brilliant white face, throat, belly and vent with heavy black streaking (see image, below). Otherwise, they are similarly marked to the males.

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“This is potentially another new species for Brazil. Once confirmed, it is vital that we assess its conservation status and any potential threats. It would be sadly ironic if, as soon as it was discovered, Sincorá Antwren became threatened with extinction,” observed Stuart Butchart, who is the Global Species Program Coordinator for BirdLife.