The Bananal antbird is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to central Brazil.
Region
Central Brazil (Araguaia River basin)
Typical Environment
Occurs primarily in riverine gallery woods, seasonally flooded (várzea-like) thickets, and willow- and bamboo-dominated scrub along channels, islands, and levees of the Araguaia–Javaés rivers. It favors dense tangles, viney understory, and young second-growth on river edges. The species is closely tied to flood dynamics and sediment-deposit habitats. It is largely absent from dry upland Cerrado away from watercourses.
Altitude Range
50–300 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Bananal antbird is confined to riparian and seasonally flooded forests along the Araguaia–Javaés river system, especially around Bananal Island in central Brazil. It keeps to dense understory, where it is more often heard than seen, and pairs frequently perform antiphonal duets. Habitat alteration from river regulation, burning, and cattle encroachment poses ongoing risks.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found as pairs that maintain territories year-round in dense river-edge cover. Nests are cup-like and placed low in shrubs or vine tangles, typically with two eggs. Pairs communicate frequently and may duet, especially at dawn, while foraging close to each other.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, accelerating whistles and sharp notes, often delivered as male–female antiphonal duets. Calls include dry chips and rattles given from within cover.
Plumage
Male mostly dark slate to blackish with small pale spots on the wing coverts and clean, contrasting underparts; female warm rufous-brown above with paler, buffy underparts and less contrasting wings. Both sexes show a neat, well-groomed feather texture suited to dense understory life. Tail often flicked, showing subtle pale edging.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as insects and spiders, gleaned from leaves, stems, and vine tangles. It occasionally sallies short distances to snatch prey and may hop to ground-level to pick items from leaf litter. It is not an obligate ant follower but may opportunistically attend small swarms.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understory of seasonally flooded forests, river-island scrub, and edges of gallery woodland. Often forages 0.5–2 m above ground inside thick cover near water.
