Akletos goeldii
The Goeldi's Antbird (Akletos goeldii) is a striking passerine from the Thamnophilidae family, renowned for its entirely black plumage contrasting sharply with a vivid red bare orbital skin. Measuring approximately 17-18 cm (about 7 inches) in length and weighing 28-32 grams, this medium-sized antbird is unmistakable due to its signature crimson eye-ring. Males are uniformly glossy black, while females exhibit a similar black coloration, sometimes with a slightly duller red eye-ring or a fain...
Found in the understory of humid tropical lowland evergreen forests, particularly favoring areas near water, swamps, or in *terra firme* and *várzea* forests, typically below 500 meters elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects (crickets, beetles, cockroaches) and spiders, often supplemented with other arthropods and occasionally small lizards. They forage by ant-following and gleaning from vegetation.
Goeldi's Antbirds are diurnal and typically observed singly or in pairs, maintaining established territories within the dense forest understory. Their primary foraging strategy involves following army ant swarms (e.g., *Eciton burchelli*, *Labidus praedator*), darting in to capture insects and ot...
The Goeldi's Antbird is endemic to the western Amazon Basin in South America, maintaining a resident distribution. Its primary range extends across eastern Peru, specifically north of the Madre de Dios River, and continues into northwestern Bolivia. Within Brazil, its distribution encompasses sou...
Least Concern
- The Goeldi's Antbird was named in honor of Swiss naturalist and zoologist Émil Goeldi. - Its genus, *Akletos*, was recently recognized as distinct from *Myrmeciza*, reflecting deeper evolutionary differences. - The striking red bare orbital skin is not feathered, but rather exposed skin, making...