Black-faced antthrush


The black-faced antthrush, is a passerine bird.

Distribution and habitat

It is a common and widespread forest bird in the tropical New World, from Honduras through Central America to the northern regions of South America. It occurs in Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Brazil, and the Amazon Basin with the exception of the northwest region.

Description

The black-faced antthrush is similar in general appearance to a rail, with a dumpy body, horizontal carriage, stout bill and short cocked tail. It walks rather than hops, with a jerky motion again reminiscent of a rail. It is typically long, and weighs. The upper parts are rufous brown, and the underparts are paler brown, except for the black face and throat, and rufous under the tail and behind the eye. The sexes are alike in plumage.

Behaviour

The antthrush builds a leaf-lined nest in a cavity in a hollow branch or stump in which two white eggs are laid. It is an insectivore which feeds on ants and other insects. It is quite terrestrial, feeding mainly on the ground. It will follow columns of army ants. The call is a loud whistle followed by a series of 2-10 descending whistles, WHU! wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu.

Taxonomy

The subspecies F. a. hoffmanni is sometimes considered a full species - the Panamanian antthrush.
The subspecies F. a. moniliger is sometimes considered a full species - the Mayan antthrush or Mexican antthrush.