Cercomacra manu
The Manu Antbird (Cercomacra manu) is a small, elusive Neotropical passerine belonging to the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), a diverse group primarily found in the Americas. Measuring about 12-13 cm (4.7-5.1 inches) in length and weighing 11-13 grams, this species exhibits striking sexual dimorphism. Males are predominantly sleek blackish-gray with a distinct, often concealed, white patch on their wing-coverts and white tips on the outer tail feathers, while females are rich rufous-brown on...
Found in the understory of humid lowland primary and transitional forests, often in areas with dense bamboo thickets, vine tangles, or around treefalls. Typically occurs below 900 meters (up to 1100 meters locally).
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of insects and other small arthropods gleaned from vegetation or captured during short sallies.
Manu Antbirds are diurnal and typically found in pairs, moving stealthily through the dense understory. Their primary foraging strategy involves gleaning insects and other small arthropods from foliage, twigs, and bark, often making short, quick sallies. While not obligate army-ant followers, the...
The Manu Antbird is a resident species found throughout the southwestern Amazon Basin. Its primary distribution includes southeastern Peru, specifically the departments of Madre de Dios, Cuzco, and Puno, extending into southwestern Amazonian Brazil across the states of Acre, Rondônia, and Amazona...
Least Concern
- The Manu Antbird is named after Manu National Park in Peru, a renowned biodiversity hotspot where the species was first formally described. - Despite their common name, antbirds do not typically eat ants; instead, they prey on other insects and arthropods flushed by army ant swarms. - Males pos...