Dot-backed Antbird

Overview

The dot-backed antbird, Hylophylax punctulatus, is a species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae, commonly known as the typical antbirds. It is a year-round resident found throughout various regions of northern and eastern South America.

Identification

• Measures 10 to 11.5 cm in length and weighs between 11 and 13 g.
• Adult males feature a dark rufous-brown crown and mantle with a white patch between the scapulars, contrasting with a black back and rump tipped with large white feathers.
• The face is predominantly white with a black throat, while the white underparts are heavily spotted with black across the breast and sides.
• The male song consists of repeated doublets of two sharp whistles that sound like "free beer" or "whee-beéyur", delivered at a rate of one every two seconds.

Habitat

This species inhabits the understorey of lowland evergreen forests, particularly preferring blackwater várzea forest, swampy areas, oxbow lake edges, and transitional forests along small watercourses. Its range extends from southern Venezuela and Colombia through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia into the Amazonian regions of Brazil.

Diet

Feeding primarily on insects and spiders, the dot-backed antbird forages alone, in pairs, or in small family groups within four metres of the ground. It typically hops among branches in semi-open understoreys, taking prey through sallies to the ground, gleaning from vegetation, or occasionally attending army ant swarms.

Did you know?

Although its IUCN status is Least Concern, the species is described as poorly known and perhaps under-recorded, with its population size remaining unknown despite a very large geographic range.