Myrmeciza longipes
The White-bellied Antbird, *Myrmeciza longipes*, is a striking member of the antbird family (Thamnophilidae), known for its distinctive plumage and ground-dwelling habits. Males boast a contrasting deep rufous back, wings, and tail, sharply delineated from a bright white belly and a dark grey head. A prominent white supercilium and a black loral patch further define the male's face. Females exhibit more rufous on the crown and face, often with a white throat and varying degrees of fine streak...
This species primarily inhabits the dense understory of lowland and foothill humid forests, forest edges, and mature secondary growth. It can be found from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in elevation.
Primarily insectivorous, its diet consists mainly of various insects such as grasshoppers, cockroaches, beetles, and ants, along with spiders and other small invertebrates. It forages by gleaning from leaf litter and low vegetation, and significantly, by snatching prey flushed by army ant swarms.
The White-bellied Antbird is a diurnal, largely terrestrial species, spending most of its time hopping and walking on the forest floor. Its foraging strategy is notably opportunistic, often involving following army ant swarms (particularly *Eciton burchellii* and *Labidus praedator*) to capture i...
The White-bellied Antbird is a resident species found across a broad expanse of northern South America and eastern Panama. Its distribution extends from eastern Panama eastward through northern Colombia and Venezuela, including Trinidad and Tobago. Further south, its range encompasses Guyana, Sur...
Least Concern
- The White-bellied Antbird gets its name from the striking white underparts, especially prominent in males, which contrast sharply with their rufous backs. - It is a highly specialized "ant-follower," often seen actively accompanying army ant swarms to feed on insects and other arthropods that f...