Hylophylax naevius
A strikingly marked denizen of the Neotropical forest understory, the Spot-backed Antbird (Hylophylax naevius) measures a modest 11-12 cm in length and weighs 12-16 grams. Males display a prominent dark grey head and neck, accented by a crisp white supercilium and a solid black throat patch, contrasting sharply with an olive-brown back beautifully adorned with white tear-drop shaped spots. Its underparts are white with bold black spotting, and rufous flanks add a touch of warmth, while black-...
This species primarily inhabits the understory of humid lowland evergreen forests, especially terra firme and seasonally flooded forests, typically at elevations below 900 meters but occasionally up to 1200 meters.
Its diet consists almost exclusively of insects and other small arthropods, primarily captured by gleaning from foliage and bark or by darting after prey disturbed by army ant swarms.
The Spot-backed Antbird is a highly active and secretive diurnal species, typically found hopping and darting through dense undergrowth, often with its tail cocked. It is renowned for its specialized foraging strategy, frequently associating with army ant swarms to snatch flushed insects, though ...
The Spot-backed Antbird boasts an extensive distribution across the Amazon Basin and adjacent regions of South America. Its primary range spans from eastern Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru eastward across southern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and much of Amazonian Brazil, extending sou...
Least Concern
- The 'antbird' in its name directly refers to its fascinating habit of closely following army ant swarms to snatch insects disturbed by the ants' movements. - Unlike many forest birds, the Spot-backed Antbird often cocks its tail upwards, a distinctive posture that aids in field identification. ...