Dusky-tailed Antbird

Overview

The dusky-tailed antbird (Drymophila malura) is an insectivorous bird belonging to the subfamily Thamnophilinae within the family Thamnophilidae, commonly known as the typical antbirds. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a population believed to be stable and considered locally fairly common, though patchily distributed.

Identification

• Measures 13 to 14.5 cm in length and weighs 11 to 13 g.
• Males have black-and-whitish gray streaked heads and necks, gray upperparts with a white scapular patch, and streaked black-and-white throats and breasts.
• Females feature heavy dark brown and buff streaks on the crown and nape, pale buff crescents around the eyes, and rich ochraceous lower flanks.
• Song consists of a very high series starting with 'tsip tsip' that accelerates into a descending rattling trill, accompanied by short, thin, buzzy calls.

Habitat

Found in southeastern Brazil (Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro south to northern Rio Grande do Sul), southeastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina's Misiones Province. It inhabits the interior and edges of evergreen forests and secondary woodlands, favouring dense understoreys of ferns, vines, or bamboo, often below 1,300 m elevation but locally up to 1,900 m.

Diet

Feeds primarily on a variety of arthropods, foraging in dense vegetation by actively hopping and flicking its tail. It usually operates within 4 m of the ground, though sometimes up to 8 m, gleaning prey from leaves, bamboo stems, and vines by reaching from perches or making short flights.

Did you know?

Although it is a member of the antbird family, this species does not follow army ant swarms. Its specific epithet, malura, derives from the Ancient Greek word malos, meaning 'soft' or 'weak'.