Black-faced Antthrush
Formicarius analis
Elusive inhabitant of humid tropical lowlands and foothills. Walks like a small chicken (not like a thrush) on the shady forest floor, holding its tail cocked and tossing leaves with its bill. Loud song of accelerating hooting whistles is often heard, but birds can be very difficult to see. Dark overall with pale bluish eyering and black face bordered by dark rusty band.
Identification
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 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.
Taxonomy
The black-faced antthrush was formally described in 1837 by the French naturalists Alcide d'Orbigny and Frédéric de Lafresnaye from a specimen collected in Bolivia. They coined the binomial name Myothera analis. The specific epithet is from the Modern Latin analis meaning "relating to the undertail-coverts of the vent". The black-faced antthrush is now placed in the genus Formicarius that was introduced by the Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert in 1783.<p>Eleven subspecies are recognised:<p>The subspecies hoffmanni is sometimes recognised as a distinct species, the Panama antthrush, based primarily of its different song. The Mayan antthrush (Formicarius moniliger) was formerly considered conspecific with the black-faced antthrush.
- Scientific name
- Formicarius analis
- Authority
- (d'Orbigny & Lafresnaye, 1837)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Formicariidae
- Genus
- Formicarius
Range and habitat
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, except for the northwest region.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The antthrush builds a leaf-lined nest in a cavity in a hollow branch or stump where 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 2–10 descending whistles, WHU! wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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