Hafferia immaculata
The Blue-lored Antbird (Hafferia immaculata) is a striking, medium-sized passerine belonging to the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), notable for its distinctive bright blue loral patch. Males are predominantly dark slate-gray to blackish, while females exhibit a browner plumage, often with a rufous wash on the underparts, but both sexes share the characteristic blue lore. Measuring about 17-18 cm (6.7-7.1 in) in length and weighing 35-45 g (1.2-1.6 oz), it possesses a robust bill and relative...
Resides in the understory of humid evergreen forests, both primary and mature secondary growth, and dense foothill cloud forests. Typically found at elevations from 200 to 2,000 meters (650 to 6,560 ft), occasionally ranging higher or lower.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, spiders, and other arthropods, often captured by following army ant swarms or by gleaning from foliage and the forest floor.
The Blue-lored Antbird is a diurnal and rather shy species, typically observed singly or in pairs foraging in the dense undergrowth. A key foraging strategy involves attending army ant swarms (primarily Eciton burchellii), where it captures insects and other arthropods flushed by the ants. When n...
The Blue-lored Antbird is a resident species distributed across a disjunct range in Central and northwestern South America. Its northernmost populations are found in Costa Rica, extending south through Panama. In South America, its range continues through western and central Colombia, western Ecu...
Least Concern
- The species name "immaculata" means "spotless," referring to the lack of spots or streaks on its breast, a common feature in many other antbirds. - Its brilliant blue loral patch is one of the most distinctive and colorful facial markings among the generally somber-colored antbirds. - Blue-lore...