Myrmelastes rufifacies
The Rufous-faced Antbird, *Myrmelastes rufifacies*, is a captivating member of the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), known for its striking plumage and specialized foraging behavior. Measuring approximately 14-15 cm in length and weighing 20-25 grams, adult males display a predominantly blackish body, starkly contrasted by a vibrant rufous face and throat, giving the species its common name. Females share a similar pattern but often exhibit a duller rufous or less extensive facial coloration, ...
This species inhabits the understory of lowland and foothill evergreen tropical rainforests, typically found at elevations below 1000 meters, preferring primary and mature secondary forests with dense vegetation.
Its diet consists primarily of insects, including orthopterans, cockroaches, and spiders, as well as other small invertebrates. These prey items are caught by ambushing them as they flee from army ant swarms, or by gleaning from vegetation.
The Rufous-faced Antbird is a diurnal species, active throughout the day, often seen hopping deliberately on the forest floor or low branches. Its foraging strategy is highly specialized: it is an obligate ant-follower, primarily associating with army ant swarms (e.g., *Eciton burchellii*). It po...
The Rufous-faced Antbird is endemic to the western Amazon basin, with a relatively restricted and disjunct distribution across three South American countries. Its range encompasses southeastern Colombia, specifically in the departments of Meta, Caquetá, and Putumayo; eastern Ecuador, found in pro...
Least Concern
- The 'rufifacies' in its scientific name literally means 'rufous-faced,' a direct nod to its most striking plumage feature. - It is one of several 'obligate ant-followers,' meaning it relies almost entirely on army ant swarms for its food, unable to survive without them. - Its very existence is ...