Bare-eyed Antbird

Overview

The bare-eyed antbird, also known as the Santarem antbird, is a Vulnerable insectivorous passerine endemic to southeastern Amazonian Brazil. This monotypic species belongs to the subfamily Thamnophilinae and is characterised by its dependence on army ant swarms for foraging.

Identification

• Measures 13.5 to 14.5 cm in length with a weight of approximately 27 to 30 g.
• Features a distinctive crest and a pale grayish green ring of bare skin around the eye.
• Males display blackish gray heads and upper breasts, while females have brownish black heads and throats; both sexes have dark reddish yellow-brown upperparts and tails.
• Song consists of 4–5 very high, descending notes, described as "Heeeeee, hew-hew-hew-hew!"

Habitat

Inhabits the understorey of very humid terra firme primary rainforest, with occasional records from várzea. Its range is confined to southeastern Amazonian Brazil, bounded by the Amazon, Rio Tapajós, and Rio Xingu, extending south to the Teles Pires in northern Mato Grosso state, entirely below 400 m elevation.

Diet

An obligate ant follower that feeds on arthropods fleeing foraging army ant swarms, such as Eciton burchelli and Labidus. It forages individually, in pairs, or in family groups, typically perching within 1 m of the ground and sallying or pouncing to the ground to capture prey.

Did you know?

The species is extremely sensitive to forest fragmentation because its survival depends on area-sensitive army ants, although it can sometimes cross rivers and narrow road breaks within continuous forest.