Rhegmatorhina berlepschi
The Harlequin Antbird (*Rhegmatorhina berlepschi*) is a visually striking and ecologically specialized member of the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), endemic to the humid lowland rainforests of the southwestern Amazon basin. Measuring approximately 14-15 cm (5.5-6 inches) in length and weighing around 20-24 grams, this species exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism. Males are predominantly glossy black with a contrasting rufous-chestnut crown and an erectile crest, complemented by a distinctiv...
This species primarily inhabits the understory of humid lowland evergreen rainforests, favoring terra firme forests. It can be found from near sea level up to approximately 600 meters (2,000 feet) in elevation.
The diet consists almost exclusively of arthropods, including insects and spiders, which are flushed from the leaf litter and undergrowth by raiding army ant swarms. It forages by darting down to capture prey disturbed by the ants.
The Harlequin Antbird is a diurnal species, spending its active hours navigating the dense understory of the rainforest, typically roosting solitarily or in pairs on low branches. Its foraging strategy is entirely specialized: it is an obligate attendant of army ant swarms, particularly those of ...
The Harlequin Antbird is a resident species found exclusively in the southwestern Amazon basin of South America. Its primary distribution encompasses southeastern Peru, specifically the departments of Madre de Dios, Puno, and Ucayali. In western Brazil, it occurs in the state of Acre, extending i...
Least Concern
- The Harlequin Antbird is an obligate army ant follower, meaning it relies almost entirely on the insect-flushing activities of army ants for its food. - Its striking sexual dimorphism makes it easy to distinguish males (glossy black with rufous crest) from females (black and white barred with r...