Automolus leucophthalmus
The White-eyed Foliage-gleaner (Automolus leucophthalmus) is a medium-sized, drab yet distinctive passerine belonging to the Furnariidae family, known for its intricate nest structures. Measuring approximately 18-19 cm (7-7.5 inches) in length and weighing around 30-40 grams, this species is characterized by its overall dull brown plumage, contrasting with a striking pale or whitish iris that gives it its common name and is its most prominent field mark. Its upperparts are olive-brown, often ...
This species primarily inhabits the understory and mid-story of humid Atlantic Forest, often favoring dense tangled vegetation, secondary growth, and bamboo thickets. It is found across a wide elevation range from sea level up to around 1,500 meters (4,900 feet).
Its diet consists primarily of various arthropods, including insects and spiders, which it gleans from dense vegetation, bark, and bromeliads, sometimes supplemented by small invertebrates.
The White-eyed Foliage-gleaner is a diurnal and rather secretive bird, typically foraging alone or in pairs, occasionally joining mixed-species flocks. It is an active gleaner, systematically working its way through dense foliage and vegetation, using its strong bill to pry open crevices, probe i...
The White-eyed Foliage-gleaner is a resident species found primarily in southeastern Brazil, with its distribution extending into extreme eastern Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. In Brazil, its range spans from the states of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais south through Rio de Janeiro, São Pa...
Least Concern
- The 'foliage-gleaner' part of its name perfectly describes its foraging technique: meticulously searching and picking prey from leaves, branches, and bark. - Its pale, almost white eye is one of the most distinctive features among its often similarly brown-plumaged relatives in the genus Automo...