Myrmornis torquata
The Wing-banded Antbird (Myrmornis torquata) is a striking yet exceedingly secretive member of the antbird family, Formicariidae, known for its cryptic plumage and distinctive field mark. Measuring approximately 15-16 cm (5.9-6.3 inches) in length and weighing 35-46 g (1.2-1.6 oz), this medium-sized ground-dweller is characterized by its overall dark, dusky brown to blackish plumage, contrasting sharply with a prominent rufous-chestnut band across its greater wing-coverts—a feature that gives...
Inhabits the dense understory of lowland and foothill tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, often found near water sources, swampy areas, or vine-tangled ravines, typically up to 1000 meters in elevation.
Feeds primarily on a variety of insects (e.g., ants, beetles, orthopterans, cockroaches) and other small invertebrates (e.g., spiders, centipedes) gleaned from the leaf litter and forest floor.
The Wing-banded Antbird is a highly terrestrial and exceptionally secretive bird, usually observed alone or in pairs, foraging silently on the forest floor during daylight hours. Its primary foraging strategy involves carefully gleaning insects and other invertebrates from leaf litter, often usin...
The Wing-banded Antbird is a resident species distributed across a wide but fragmented range in southern Central America and northwestern South America. In Central America, it is found from eastern Honduras south through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. Its South American distribution extends f...
Least Concern
- The Wing-banded Antbird is often called a "ghost of the forest" due to its incredibly shy and elusive nature, making it one of the most challenging birds to observe. - Despite its common name, it is not an obligate army ant follower, differentiating it from many other antbird species that rely ...