Scalloped Antbird

Overview

The scalloped antbird (Myrmoderus ruficauda) is an endangered passerine bird belonging to the subfamily Thamnophilinae. It is endemic to Brazil, where it occupies a disjunct distribution in the southeastern regions.

Identification

• Length of 14 to 15 cm, with adult males featuring a black crown, nape, and upper back edged with white, alongside a rufous rump and brown tail.
• Males display black faces and throats with black breast feathers edged in white and ochre-brown underparts, while females have browner upperparts, a buff face, and a scalloped white throat.
• Vocalisations include a very high, sharp, almost level, rattling trill and a short, buzzy 'squit' call.

Habitat

Found in southeastern Brazil, with the nominate subspecies in southeastern Bahia, extreme eastern Minas Gerais, and Espírito Santo, and the soror subspecies further north between Paraíba and Alagoas. It primarily inhabits semi-humid and humid evergreen forest and mature secondary woodland, favouring areas with vine tangles and dense understorey vegetation below 650 m, though occasionally reaching 950 m.

Diet

The diet consists of insects and other arthropods. Foraging is almost entirely terrestrial, with individuals hopping on the ground or low branches to capture prey by tossing aside or probing leaf litter, as well as gleaning from low-hanging leaves by reaching and jumping.

Did you know?

The species was formerly classified within the genus Myrmeciza, but a 2013 molecular phylogenetic study revealed that this group was polyphyletic, leading to the bird's reassignment to the resurrected genus Myrmoderus.