The black-faced antthrush is a species of passerine bird in the family Formicariidae. It is found in Central America from Honduras through Panama, on Trinidad, and in every mainland South American country except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Region
Central America and northern South America, including Trinidad
Typical Environment
Occurs from Honduras through Panama, on Trinidad, and across much of mainland South America except Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It inhabits humid lowland and foothill forests, favoring dense understory and shaded, undisturbed leaf litter. Also found in older secondary forests and along forest edges and stream gullies, but generally avoids open areas. Local presence can be patchy where forest cover is fragmented.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A secretive ground-dweller, the black-faced antthrush often runs rather than flies, flicking its tail and bobbing as it forages. It sometimes follows army-ant swarms to snatch insects and other small creatures flushed from the leaf litter. Pairs maintain territories year-round and perform striking antiphonal duets.
Chan Chich Lodge area, Belize – flash photo
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, usually low to the ground
Social Behavior
Typically seen alone or in bonded pairs that defend territories year-round. Nests are placed close to or on the ground in well-concealed sites, with both parents participating in care. Courtship and pair-bond maintenance include duets and mutual foraging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives clear, mournful, whistled notes delivered singly or in evenly spaced series. Pairs often duet antiphonally, creating an overlapping, ventriloquial effect that carries through dense forest.
Plumage
Compact, thrush-like bird with warm brown upperparts and paler, rufous-brown underparts; plumage is smooth and unpatterned except for the contrasting face. Tail is short; wings rounded; overall appearance is plain but rich-toned.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and other arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and cockroaches, gleaned from the forest floor. Will also take small vertebrates like tiny frogs or lizards when available. Frequently attends army-ant swarms to capture prey flushed from leaf litter.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the shaded forest floor among deep leaf litter, at the bases of buttresses, and along fallen logs. Stays close to dense cover, often using tangles and understory thickets for quick escape.
