Sooty Antbird

Overview

The sooty antbird (Hafferia fortis) is a species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae, known as the typical antbirds. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN due to its large range and stable population.

Identification

• 17 to 19 cm in length, weighing between 42 and 48 g.
• Males are mostly very dark grey with a brown tinge on the wings, while females have a rufous-chestnut crown with a black border and greyish olive-brown upperparts.
• Both sexes possess a ring of light blue bare skin around the eye and a red iris.
• Song is described as a slowly and even-paced, rising series of ringing, descending whistled notes.

Habitat

Found in the western Amazon Basin across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It primarily inhabits the floor and understorey of terra firme evergreen forest, favouring dense undergrowth along watercourses and in viny openings. Elevation ranges from 300 m in Colombia to 1,300 m in Peru.

Diet

Feeds on insects and other arthropods, foraging singly, in pairs, or in family groups mostly on the ground. It captures prey by gleaning, reaching, or pouncing, and regularly follows army ant swarms to catch fleeing insects.

Did you know?

The species was originally described in 1868 as Percnostola fortis and later moved to Myrmeciza before being placed in the newly erected genus Hafferia in 2013 following a molecular phylogenetic study.