Black-faced antthrush

The black-faced antthrush (Formicarius analis), is a passerine bird.

Black-faced antthrush

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Formicariidae
Genus: Formicarius
Species:
F. analis
Binomial name
Formicarius analis

Distribution and habitat
Chan Chich Lodge area, Belize - flash photo

It is a common and widespread forest bird in the tropical New World, from Honduras through Central America to the northern regions of South America. It occurs in Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Brazil, and the Amazon Basin with the exception of the northwest region.

Description

The black-faced antthrush is similar in general appearance to a rail, with a dumpy body, horizontal carriage, stout bill and short cocked tail. It walks rather than hops, with a jerky motion again reminiscent of a rail. It is typically 18–19 cm (7.1–7.5 in) long, and weighs 59 g (2.1 oz). The upper parts are rufous brown, and the underparts are paler brown, except for the black face and throat, and rufous under the tail and behind the eye. The sexes are alike in plumage.

Behaviour

The antthrush builds a leaf-lined nest in a cavity in a hollow branch or stump in which two white eggs are laid. It is an insectivore which feeds on ants and other insects. It is quite terrestrial, feeding mainly on the ground. It will follow columns of army ants. The call is a loud whistle followed by a series of 2–10 descending whistles, WHU! wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu.

Taxonomy

The subspecies F. a. hoffmanni is sometimes considered a full species - the Panamanian antthrush. The subspecies F. a. moniliger is sometimes considered a full species - the Mayan antthrush or Mexican antthrush.

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Formicarius analis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
  • ffrench, Richard (1991). A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (2nd ed.). Comstock Publishing. ISBN 0-8014-9792-2.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.