Myrmoderus squamosus
The Squamate Antbird (Myrmoderus squamosus) is a striking, medium-sized member of the Thamnophilidae family, characteristic of the dense understory of Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Males measure around 15.5-16 cm (6.1-6.3 in) and weigh 24-28 g, distinguished by their olive-brown upperparts, a stark black face and throat, and a prominent white eye-ring. Their most distinctive feature is a dramatic black breast and belly adorned with a unique white "squamate" or scaly pattern. Females are similar i...
Found in lowland to foothill humid Atlantic Forest, favoring dense understory, secondary growth, bamboo thickets, and forest borders. Typically inhabits elevations below 900 meters.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as ants, beetles, spiders, and other small arthropods found in the leaf litter and low vegetation.
The Squamate Antbird is a shy, diurnal species, typically encountered hopping silently on the forest floor within dense undergrowth. It primarily forages terrestrially, meticulously sifting through leaf litter and probing for invertebrates, occasionally following army ant swarms but not obligatel...
The Squamate Antbird is an endemic resident of the highly diverse Atlantic Forest biome in southeastern Brazil. Its primary distribution extends from southern Espírito Santo state, traversing through Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina, reaching its southern limit in northeaster...
Least Concern
- Its scientific name "squamosus" directly refers to the distinctive "scaly" pattern on the male's breast, a key identification feature. - Unlike many antbird species, the Squamate Antbird is not an obligate army-ant follower, often foraging independently. - This species is endemic to the highly ...