Pyriglena maura
The Western Fire-eye (Pyriglena maura) is a striking passerine from the Antbird family (Thamnophilidae), known for its pronounced sexual dimorphism and fiery red irises. Males are predominantly glossy black, often appearing sleek and uniform, accented only by a concealed white dorsal patch that is visible during display or agitation. Females, in contrast, sport a rich chestnut-brown plumage on their upperparts, wings, and flanks, with a contrasting black head and underparts, creating a distin...
Primarily found in the dense understory of humid lowland and foothill evergreen forests, often in mature secondary growth or along forest edges, from near sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on a wide array of arthropods including insects (ants, beetles, crickets, roaches, spiders) and occasionally small vertebrates like lizards, largely gleaned or snatched from the forest floor and low vegetation, especially when following army ant swarms.
Western Fire-eyes are primarily diurnal, typically active from dawn to dusk, often spending nights roosting solitarily or in pairs within dense foliage. Their foraging strategy largely revolves around obligate or facultative army ant following, where they perch low and dash out to snatch arthropo...
The Western Fire-eye (Pyriglena maura) has a broad, though somewhat disjunct, distribution across South America, primarily east of the Andes. Its range extends through parts of Colombia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, northern Bolivia, and vast swathes of western and southwestern Brazil, reaching...
Least Concern
- The Western Fire-eye's brilliant red eyes are thought to be a warning signal to predators, or perhaps play a role in species recognition in the dimly lit forest understory. - Unlike many birds, the male Western Fire-eye possesses a concealed white patch on its back, which is only flashed during...