South-eastern Brazil in coastal region from southern Bahia south to Santa Catarina, extending inland in Minas Gerais (R Doce region) and Sío Paulo, and north-eastern Argentina (Misiones).
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010) and decreasing.
Status NT
Habitat destruction and degradation due to agricultural conversion and deforestation for mining and plantation production, urbanisation, industrialisation, agricultural expansion, colonisation and associated road-building, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Song is a series of loud accelerating musical notes (longer, less abrupt and run together than that of Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis)). Also an often repeated querulous 'wurr'.
Spot-breasted Antvireo (Dysithamnus) [XC389203]
by Ross Gallardy from Santos, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil (song)
Spot-breasted Antvireo (Dysithamnus stictothorax) [XC545185]
by Caio Brito from Corup\u00e1, Santa Catarina, Brazil (song)
Subspecies
Relationships of genus not clearly established; preliminary molecular evidence suggests affiliation with Thamnophilus, and morphological characteristics have connected it with Thamnomanes. Appears to form a monophyletic group with Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis), Streak-crowned Antvireo (Dysithamnus striaticeps), Spot-crowned Antvireo (Dysithamnus puncticeps) and Rufous-backed Antvireo (Dysithamnus xanthopterus) to which other species placed in the genus are probably closely related.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Plain Antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis) is pale grey below, lacks spotting on face and chest.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet