White-browed Warbler

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Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Myiothlypis leucoblephara
  • Spanish Name: Curruca cejiblanca
  • Family: Parulidae
  • Known Nicknames: White-browed Redstart, White-browed Chat-Tyrant
  • Average Length: 12–13 cm / 4.7–5.1 in
  • Average Weight: 10–14 g / 0.35–0.49 oz
  • Wingspan: 17–20 cm / 6.7–7.9 in
  • Key Feature: Conspicuous white supercilium (eyebrow) contrasting with dark crown and ear coverts
  • Primary Diet: Insectivore
  • Range: Eastern and southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, and Uruguay
  • Habitat: Atlantic Forest understory, humid montane forests, and forest edges
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs
  • Nesting/Breeding: Open cup nest built in low vegetation or on the ground
  • Conservation Status: Least Concern (LC)
  • Population Trend: Stable

The White-browed Warbler (*Myiothlypis leucoblephara*) is a striking, mid-sized warbler native to the forests of southeastern South America, most notably Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Its most distinctive feature is the bold, white supercilium (eyebrow) that contrasts sharply with its dark gray head and olive-green upperparts, while its underparts are a clean, pale yellow with a subtle white throat. A special characteristic of this lively bird is its habit of constantly flicking its tail and wings as it forages, often in mixed-species flocks, and it is known for its loud, clear song—a rapid series of whistles that echo through the understory. Uniquely, it prefers humid, dense bamboo thickets and forest edges, where its secretive nature makes it a rewarding sight for patient birdwatchers.

Fun Facts

The White-browed Warbler engages in a quirky behavior called "anting," where it deliberately rubs ants on its feathers, likely to use the formic acid as a natural insecticide or to soothe molting skin. It has a uniquely loud, piercing song that sounds almost mechanical, often delivered in a rapid series of notes from dense undergrowth, making it far easier to hear than see. An unusual adaptation is its habit of cocking its tail upward like a wren, which it flicks constantly while foraging, a motion thought to flush out hidden insects from leaf litter. Despite its small size, it is a skilled duet singer, with mated pairs coordinating calls in tight synchrony to defend their territory.

Habitats & Distribution

The White-browed Warbler inhabits the understory and edges of humid Atlantic Forest, including both primary and secondary growth, as well as adjacent areas of dense shrubbery and bamboo thickets. It is most commonly found in lowland and montane regions up to approximately 1,200 meters in elevation, where it prefers moist, shaded environments near streams or forest clearings. Its geographical range is restricted to eastern South America, occurring in southeastern Brazil (from southern Bahia south to Rio Grande do Sul), eastern Paraguay, and extreme northeastern Argentina (Misiones province).

Behaviours & Reproduction

The White-browed Warbler is generally monogamous, with pairs forming during the breeding season that typically spans the austral spring and summer. Males establish territories and sing persistently to attract a mate and defend their area. Socially, they are territorial and often forage in pairs or small family groups, but they do not form large flocks. A unique reproductive strategy involves building a bulky, domed nest with a side entrance, often placed low in dense vegetation or on the ground. Both parents share incubation duties and feed the chicks, and the species may occasionally engage in cooperative breeding, where helper birds—often offspring from a previous brood—assist in raising the young.

Diet

The White-browed Warbler (Myiothlypis leucoblephara) is primarily an insectivore, foraging actively through the understory and leaf litter of humid forests in southeastern South America. Its diet consists mainly of small arthropods, including beetles, caterpillars, ants, spiders, and other insects, which it gleans from leaves, bark, and the ground. An interesting fact is that it is a proficient "leaf-scratcher," using its feet to kick aside dead leaves and debris to expose hidden prey, a behavior that distinguishes it from many other warblers. Additionally, while insects form the bulk of its nutrition, it will occasionally consume small berries and seeds, especially during non-breeding seasons when insect availability decreases.

Colors

The White-browed Warbler has olive-brown upperparts and pale yellow underparts, with a distinctive long white supercilium above a dark eyestripe. Its throat is whitish, and the flanks show a faint buffy wash. This subtle coloration provides effective camouflage in the dappled light of its humid forest understory habitat.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.