Myrmophylax atrothorax
The Black-throated Antbird (Myrmophylax atrothorax) is a striking passerine from the family Thamnophilidae, renowned for its marked sexual dimorphism and association with army ants. Males present a sleek, uniform slate-gray plumage, dramatically contrasted by a deep, glossy black throat and upper breast, often accented by a small, hidden white patch on the wing. Measuring approximately 14-15 cm in length and weighing between 18-24 grams, their bright red iris offers a piercing gaze in the dap...
Found in humid lowland evergreen forests, often near water or in swampy areas, and also in drier 'terra firme' forests, typically at elevations up to 1,200 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects (e.g., orthopterans, beetles) and other arthropods like spiders, often taking prey disturbed by army ant swarms.
The Black-throated Antbird is a diurnal species, typically found active in the dense understory of humid lowland forests, where it often perches low to the ground. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and other arthropods from foliage, bark, and leaf litter, frequently probing ...
The Black-throated Antbird is a resident species distributed widely across the Amazon Basin and the Guianas, exhibiting no migratory movements. Its extensive range encompasses southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and northern Bolivia, extending eastward across a significant porti...
Least Concern
- The Black-throated Antbird is one of the few bird species that regularly associates with army ant swarms, feeding on insects flushed by the ants. - Despite its name, it is not an obligate ant-follower, meaning it can forage successfully without the presence of army ants. - Males and females are...