Cercomacra cinerascens
The Grey Antbird (*Cercomacra cinerascens*) is a small, relatively drab yet distinctive member of the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), characteristic of the dense understory of Amazonian lowland forests. Measuring approximately 12-14 cm (5-5.5 inches) in length and weighing between 12-18 grams, its overall gray plumage provides excellent camouflage. Males are typically a uniform slate-gray, often accented by crisp white wingbars-a key identification feature-and sometimes a subtle white patch ...
This species primarily inhabits the dense, humid understory of lowland evergreen forests, frequently near water sources or on forested slopes. It also utilizes mature second-growth, forest edges, and riparian zones, generally occurring below 1000 meters in elevation.
The Grey Antbird's diet consists mainly of insects, spiders, and other small arthropods, which it primarily gleans from foliage, twigs, and bark in the forest understory.
Grey Antbirds are diurnal and typically observed in pairs or small family groups, maintaining their territories year-round within the dense forest. They forage primarily by gleaning insects and other arthropods from foliage, twigs, and bark within the undergrowth, usually from the ground level up...
The Grey Antbird boasts a broad distribution across the Amazon Basin, encompassing parts of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Its range primarily extends across the humid lowlands, generally staying below 1000 meters (3,300 feet) in elevation, though some local populations ...
Least Concern
- The Grey Antbird is often heard before it is seen, thanks to its distinctive, accelerating whistled song echoing through the dense undergrowth. - Despite its common name, it is not a primary army-ant follower like some other antbird species, preferring to glean its prey independently. - Females...