Phlegopsis erythroptera
The Reddish-winged Bare-eye, *Phlegopsis erythroptera*, is a striking medium-sized antbird of the Amazonian understory, measuring approximately 16.5-17.5 cm in length and weighing between 38-42 grams. Its most distinctive field marks are its dull olive-brown body contrasting sharply with brilliant reddish-chestnut wing coverts and secondaries, and a vivid, unfeathered cobalt-blue patch of skin around each eye, giving it its 'bare-eye' moniker. Taxonomically, it belongs to the family Thamnophi...
This species inhabits the understory of humid lowland evergreen forests, primarily thriving in both 'terra firme' and 'várzea' forest types, typically found at elevations below 500 meters.
The Reddish-winged Bare-eye is predominantly insectivorous, preying on a wide array of insects (such as orthoptera, coleoptera, and hymenoptera) and spiders, supplemented by small lizards and frogs. Its primary foraging method involves capturing these small animals as they are flushed from the fo...
The Reddish-winged Bare-eye is a diurnal species, spending its day almost exclusively following army ant swarms, most notably *Eciton burchellii* and *Labidus praedator*. As an obligate ant-follower, it forages by darting in and out around the edges of the ant swarm, snatching insects and small v...
The Reddish-winged Bare-eye is widely distributed across western Amazonia, with its core range extending through southern Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, western Brazil, and northern Bolivia. A significant, geographically isolated population exists in eastern Brazil, specifically within ...
Least Concern
- The Reddish-winged Bare-eye is an "obligate ant-follower," meaning it almost exclusively feeds on insects and small animals flushed by army ant swarms. - Its bright cobalt-blue bare-eye patch is not feathered, giving it a striking and distinct appearance among forest birds. - Despite its name, ...