Mayan Antthrush
Formicarius moniliger
Elusive inhabitant of humid tropical lowlands and foothills from Veracruz to Honduras. Dark brown and gray overall with pale bluish eyering, darker throat, and rusty rump. Walks jerkily like a small chicken (not like a thrush) on the shady forest floor, holding its tail cocked and tossing leaves with its bill. Can be very difficult to see. Listen for distinctive loud series of piping whistles that drops in pitch.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Formicarius moniliger
- Authority
- Sclater, PL, 1857
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Formicariidae
- Genus
- Formicarius
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Tenggara Swiftlet
Collocalia sumbawae
A tiny swift with dark plumage except for the off-white underside from the lower breast down. Tail looks square, only sometimes showing a very marginal tail notch. Aerial and gregarious, gathering in flocks over a variety of habitats, both open and forested. Restricted to the western Lesser Sundas, where it only overlaps with one other similar species, White-nest Swiftlet. Tenggara Swiflet is smaller with a white underside, unlike that species.
Reddish Scops-Owl
Otus rufescens
Small owl with large, dark red eyes and soft ear tufts. Like many other small owls, far more often heard than seen; listen for its quiet whistled hoots, given at approximately 10-second intervals. If seen, note its pale yellow bill and very lightly-speckled underparts. Found in lowland and foothill forest.
Uniform Crake
Amaurolimnas concolor
Larger than most crakes. Found in wet forests instead of marshes. Very difficult to see as it creeps through dense understory. Far more easily heard: a series of upslurred whistled notes. Look for a brown bird with richer rufous underparts, a dull greenish-yellowish bill, and reddish legs. Favors dense wet forest or thickets, often but not always near a swamp or stream.
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