Black-hooded Antwren

The black-hooded antwren is 11 cm (4.3 in) long. Adult males have a deep rufous back, rump, and uppertail coverts. They are otherwise almost entirely black, with white tips on the wing coverts and white flanks. The center of their throat and breast are black, their flanks white, and their undertail coverts have white bars. Adult females also have deep rufous upperparts. They are mostly olive-brown otherwise, which color is paler and buffier on their underparts. Their wings and tail are blackish with white tips on the coverts. They have variable amounts of thin dark streaks or mottling on their head and throat. Adults have a slim black bill.

The black-hooded antwren was known from about 20 specimens collected in the 19th century but was not seen for more than 100 years until it was rediscovered in 1987. It was thought to occur somewhat inland near Nova Friburgo but records there are apparently erroneous. It is now found in several subpopulations along the coast of Baía da Ilha Grande in Rio de Janeiro state. There it typically inhabits areas in the early stages of succession such as young second growth and secondary forest. It also occurs in abandoned banana plantations that are reverting to forest.

The diet of the black-hooded antwren is not known in detail but includes insects, spiders, and small frogs. It typically forages singly, in pairs, or in family groups, and only seldom if ever as part of a mixed-species feeding flock. It usually forages between the ground and about 3 m (10 ft) above it but occasionally feeds as high as 7 m (23 ft). It forages actively, taking most prey by gleaning from live leaves, vines, branches, and stems. It sometimes makes short sallies from a perch to reach the underside of leaves. It is not known to follow army ant swarms.