Photo: thibaudaronson / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Tawny-faced Gnatwren
Microbates cinereiventris
Tawny-faced Gnatwren (Microbates cinereiventris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren (Microbates cinereiventris) is a member of the Polioptilidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 11.9 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 Polioptilidae Gnatcatchers
- Genus Microbates
- Species cinereiventris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 11.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Polioptilidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren (Microbates cinereiventris) belongs to the Polioptilidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA Nicaragua to e Peru.
It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 11.9 g, with a wing length of about 5.3 cm and a tail of around 2.7 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 552,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Tawny-faced Gnatwren?
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren is a very small bird that weighs around 11.9 g.
Where does the Tawny-faced Gnatwren live?
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA Nicaragua to e Peru, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Tawny-faced Gnatwren belong to?
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren (Microbates cinereiventris) belongs to the Polioptilidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Tawny-faced Gnatwren eat?
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Tawny-faced Gnatwren migrate?
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Tawny-faced Gnatwren 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 Tawny-faced Gnatwren make?
1 real field recording of the Tawny-faced Gnatwren — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Tawny-faced Gnatwren's range?
The Tawny-faced Gnatwren has a mapped global range of about 552,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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