Rufous-faced Antbird

Overview

The rufous-faced antbird (Myrmelastes rufifacies) is a species of bird in the family Thamnophilidae, endemic to Brazil. Classified as a 'typical antbird', it was historically considered a subspecies of the spot-winged antbird before being recognized as a distinct species based on vocal and taxonomic revisions.

Identification

• Measures 14 to 16 cm in length and weighs between 21 and 26 g.
• Males feature medium gray upperparts with an olive-brown tinge and blackish-gray wings with wide white tips on the coverts.
• Females have a gray-brown crown and upperparts, with blackish-brown wings tipped in pale cinnamon-rufous; the face is distinctly rufous.
• Song consists of a series of slowly starting, accelerating notes that sharply lower in pitch, similar to the Roraiman antbird.

Habitat

Found in the central Amazon Basin south of the Amazon River, between the Madeira and Tocantins rivers, and extending into northern Rondônia and far northern Mato Grosso. It primarily inhabits the floor and understorey of terra firme evergreen forest, favoring poorly drained areas and zones along small watercourses, typically below 500 m in elevation.

Diet

Feeds primarily on insects and occasionally includes arachnids in its diet. While its foraging behavior is not explicitly documented, it is assumed to be very similar to that of the spot-winged antbird.

Did you know?

The species has a complex taxonomic history, having been separated from the spot-winged antbird after a 2007 study revealed significant vocal differences, leading to its promotion to species status in 2013.