Myrmelastes humaythae
The Humaita Antbird (*Myrmelastes humaythae*) is a medium-sized, somber-plumaged antbird, typically measuring 14-15 cm (5.5-6 inches) in length and weighing around 23-26 grams (0.8-0.9 oz). Males are largely dark gray to blackish, with a slightly darker head and tail, while females are similarly dark but often exhibit a subtle brownish wash, particularly on the flanks and belly, sometimes with a faint rufescent tinge on the vent. Both sexes share distinctive white underwing coverts, visible p...
Lowland humid evergreen forests, particularly in the understory of terra firme and várzea (seasonally flooded) forests, often near streams or rivers, at elevations typically below 500 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, consuming a variety of insects and other arthropods, which it gleans from low vegetation and the forest floor, often in association with army ant swarms.
The Humaita Antbird is a secretive and often elusive species, primarily active during daylight hours, preferring the dense, dark undergrowth where it moves deliberately and silently. Its foraging strategy largely revolves around following army ant swarms, using them to flush out insects and other...
The Humaita Antbird is endemic to the southwestern Amazon Basin, with its primary distribution concentrated in Brazil, specifically across the states of Amazonas, Rondônia, and Acre. Its range extends west into southeastern Peru, particularly in the departments of Madre de Dios and Ucayali, and s...
Least Concern
- The Humaita Antbird was only recognized as a full species relatively recently, having previously been considered a subspecies of either Rufous-tailed Antbird (*Myrmelastes ruficauda*) or Ihering's Antbird (*Myrmelastes iheringi*). - Its species name, *humaythae*, refers to Humaitá, a municipali...