Willisornis poecilinotus
The Common Scale-backed Antbird, *Willisornis poecilinotus*, is a strikingly marked, medium-sized antbird of the Neotropics, measuring approximately 11.5-12.5 cm in length and weighing around 15-20 grams. Males feature a distinctive grey head with a black facial mask, olive-brown to brownish-grey upperparts with prominent black 'scales' or barring, a rufous rump, and grey underparts, often with white scaling on the flanks. Their namesake 'scaled back' is a key identification mark. Females gen...
Found in the understory of humid primary lowland evergreen rainforests, particularly in terra firme forests, often near streams, ravines, or natural treefall gaps. Primarily occurs below 800 meters elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects (beetles, ants, orthopterans) and spiders, often obtained by gleaning from foliage or flushed by army ant swarms.
This diurnal antbird spends its days actively foraging in the forest understory, often at or near ground level. Its primary foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and other arthropods from foliage and dead leaves, but it is well-known for its strong association with army ant swarms. These an...
The Common Scale-backed Antbird is a resident species found across a vast area of the western and central Amazon Basin in South America. Its distribution extends from southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and eastern Peru, eastward across much of Amazonian Brazil, and south into northern Bolivi...
Least Concern
- The 'scale-backed' appearance, particularly prominent in males, is created by fine black barring on the tips of their olive-brown back feathers. - This species is a classic 'ant-follower', often seen attending army ant swarms, using the ants to flush out hidden prey from the forest floor. - Des...