With more than 1880 species, Colombia has the highest number of recorded bird species of any country, and this week Colombian ornithologists have unveiled the discovery of a brand new endemic species of bird, the Antioquia Wren.
The new species of Wren (Thryophilus Sernai) was found in the dry Cauca River Canyon, a narrow valley enclosed by forests, in Northwestern Colombia, just 45 minutes outside the city of Medellin. The latest addition to the wren family can be told apart from its counterparts by its unique plumage coloration, the pattern of barring on its wings and tail, its smaller body size, and its distinctive birdsong. The identification of this wren was the result of a two-year project by Colombian ornithologists Andrés Cuervo, Daniel Cadena, Diego Valderrama and Sandra Calderon.