The black antbird is a species of passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Region
Western and central Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland evergreen and seasonally flooded (várzea) forests across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It favors dense understory, vine tangles, and river-edge thickets, often near the forest floor. The species is frequently found along streams, oxbow lakes, and in secondary growth with substantial cover. It stays within shaded, humid microhabitats and seldom ventures into open areas. Presence is often detected by its song and soft contact calls rather than by sight.
Altitude Range
0–900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The black antbird often accompanies army-ant swarms, snatching insects and other small arthropods flushed from the leaf litter. It lives in the dense understory of lowland Amazonian forests and is typically seen in pairs that keep close contact with soft calls. Males are mostly black while females are browner and more rufescent, showing clear sexual dimorphism. It is a year-round resident throughout much of the western and central Amazon Basin.
Temperament
skulking and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and direct through understory
Social Behavior
Usually seen in pairs or small family groups maintaining territories year-round. Pairs keep contact with soft chip notes while moving near the forest floor. Nesting is presumed to be a small open cup placed low in dense vegetation, with both sexes likely participating in care of young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a short, accelerating series of clear, sharp notes that may end in a trill or sustained phrase. Calls include dry chips and soft contact notes used to stay connected while foraging in dense cover.
Plumage
Male is predominantly soot-black with minimal patterning and a matte to slightly glossy finish; female is warm brown to rufescent with paler underparts and subtle pale edging on the wings. Both sexes show a short, rounded tail and compact, sleek plumage suited to moving through dense understory.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects and other small arthropods such as spiders and beetles. Often forages near or with army-ant swarms, taking prey flushed from the leaf litter. It gleans from leaves, twigs, and the ground, and occasionally snatches prey in short sallies. Larger prey items are subdued against perches before swallowing.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the shaded understory of humid forests, especially near dense tangles, fallen logs, and along stream margins. Frequently keeps within 1–3 meters of the ground where cover is thick. Will also use regenerating secondary growth if sufficient understory density is present.
