The tropics hold a variety of species that are unique, and none are more interesting and challenging than the antbirds. The antbirds are small passerines within the family Thamnophilidae, and are restricted to tropical Central and South America. A second ant-dependent family, the Formicariidae, are found more commonly on the ground, and resemble thrushes in behavior and morphology.
The antbirds are generally insectivores, and gained an association with ants due to their habit of some of following columns
of army ants to feed opportunistically on the insects that are attempting to
flee the ants' advance. So while they do
not necessarily eat ants (although some are obligate ant-followers), the swarms
of ants enhance feeding opportunities.
Barred Antshrike (Thamnophilus
doliatus) in Jaú, São Paulo state, Brazil.
Photo taken by Dario Sanches, from Sao Paulo, Brasil, September 30,2007
There are a number of species that belong to the Thamnophilidae, and these species are typically divided based on size and foraging behavior. These species include the antshrikes, which are large and have a hooked bill similar to the shrikes found in other parts of the world. Smaller antbirds include the antwrens and antvireos, that will forage for tinier insects and often forage on the wing. All members of the group prefer being in the darker lower levels of the forest under a thick canopy. They are commonly cryptic, with dusky brown, black, gray and white coloration. However, some may have iridescent face and neck coloration, as in the case of the Oscellated Antbird.
At the Leaves and Lizards site many of the antbirds can be found in the mature tree habitat, but could be expected to increase in number as the forest becomes more dense and begins to become attractive to insects and army ant swarms.
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