Ash-throated antwren

Species of bird

The ash throated antwren (Herpsilochmus parkeri) is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to Peru. It is a member of a clade within the genus that also includes the Bahia antwren (H. pileatus), black capped antwren (H. atricapillus), and creamy bellied antwren (H. motacilloides). The ash throated and creamy bellied antwrens are sister species. The ash throated antwren's specific epithet honors Theodore A. Parker III. The ash throated antwren is monotypic.

The ash throated antwren is known only from the watershed of the Río Mayo in the northern Peruvian Department of San Martín. It inhabits a variety of wooded landscapes including tall humid montane forest, mid height semi stunted forest, and very low stunted forest, many of them on sandy soil. In elevation it occurs in the narrow range of .

The ash throated antwren is a year round resident throughout its range.

The ash throated antwren's diet has not been detailed but is known to include insects and spiders. It usually forages in pairs and often as a member of a mixed species feeding flock.

The ash throated antwren's breeding season appears to span from May to September or October. Nothing else is known about the species' breeding biology.

The ash throated antwren's song is "a rapid, accelerating decelerating, rising falling series of rich notes, with a rising series of 2 or 3 introductory notes: pew PEW PEW pee'e'E'E'E'e'e e e e u". Its call is "a rich, short tchew, often doubled or tripled".

The IUCN originally in 1988 assessed the ash throated antwren as Threatened, then in 1994 as Vulnerable, in 2000 as Endangered, and in 2021 again as Vulnerable. It has a very small range and its estimated population of 1720 to 4800 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing. "Its small known range is coupled with widespread deforestation of the adjacent lowlands in the río Mayo valley. Coca and coffee are widely cultivated in this region, and areas of suitable habitat are gradually being cleared for timber, agriculture, road developments and human population growth."