The speckle-breasted wren (Pheugopedius sclateri) is a species of bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Taxonomy and systematics
The speckle-breasted wren has at times been treated as conspecific with rufous-breasted wren (P. rutilus) and spot-breasted wren (P. maculipectus). They do form a superspecies.
The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) and the Clements taxonomy recognize three subspecies. The names in parentheses are from Clements.
BirdLife International (BLI) treats all three subspecies as separate species and calls them the "Maranon", "Colombian", and "speckle-breasted" wrens.
Description
The nominate P. s. sclateri is 14.5 to 15.5 cm (5.7 to 6.1 in) long and weighs 20 g (0.71 oz). Adults have a reddish brown crown and a medium brown back and rump. Their tail has alternating gray and dull black bars. They have a narrow white supercilium and a dark eyestripe; the sides of the face and neck are mottled black and white. Their underparts from the chin down through the lower belly have fine black and white bars. The lower belly and flanks have bars but they are more diffuse, and the flanks also have a buff wash. Juveniles are similar to the adults but their underside's bars do not go as far down the belly.
Pheugopedius sclateri columbianus is 13 to 14 cm (5.1 to 5.5 in) long. Adults have uniform brown upperparts with a rufous tinge to the crown and their tails have broad dark bars. They have a narrow white supercilium. Their face and most of their underparts are white with black bars and spots; the flanks are dark buff.
Pheugopedius sclateri paucimaculatus is 13.5 to 15.5 cm (5.3 to 6.1 in) long. Males average 12.7 g (0.45 oz) and females 10 g (0.35 oz). Adults...
