Photo: Hector Bottai / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-capped Antwren
Herpsilochmus atricapillus
Black-capped Antwren (Herpsilochmus atricapillus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-capped Antwren (Herpsilochmus atricapillus) is a member of the Thamnophilidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 9.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Thamnophilidae Antbirds
- Genus Herpsilochmus
- Species atricapillus
Where it lives
Eastern, southeastern Brazil to central Bolivia, northwestern Argentina and Paraguay
Quick facts
- Weight
- 9.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Thamnophilidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-capped Antwren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Black-capped Antwren is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-capped Antwren (Herpsilochmus atricapillus) belongs to the Thamnophilidae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA e, se Brazil to c Bolivia, nw Argentina and Paraguay.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 9.8 g, with a wing length of about 5.2 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-capped Antwren?
The Black-capped Antwren is a very small bird that weighs around 9.8 g.
Where does the Black-capped Antwren live?
The Black-capped Antwren is found across South America with a range covering SA e, se Brazil to c Bolivia, nw Argentina and Paraguay, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Black-capped Antwren belong to?
The Black-capped Antwren (Herpsilochmus atricapillus) belongs to the Thamnophilidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Black-capped Antwren eat?
The Black-capped Antwren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-capped Antwren migrate?
The Black-capped Antwren is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-capped Antwren endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-capped Antwren make?
1 real field recording of the Black-capped Antwren — including its duet — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-capped Antwren's range?
The Black-capped Antwren has a mapped global range of about 3.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Thamnophilidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Songbirds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Bird Feeders for Garden Songbirds
How to choose a bird feeder for garden songbirds — the feeder styles compared, the seed they prefer, where to hang it, and how to keep birds safe. A decision framework grounded in real data, with no mystery picks.
Meet the Thamnophilidae
A field guide to the Thamnophilidae family — 240 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.