The Cordillera Azul antbird is a Near Threatened species of passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found only in the Cordillera Azul, San Martín Region, Peru.
Region
Cordillera Azul (eastern Andean foothills), Peru
Typical Environment
Occurs in the humid understory of submontane evergreen forests on the ridges and slopes of the Cordillera Azul. It favors dense tangles, viney thickets, and patches of bamboo and secondary growth within primary forest mosaics. Territories are typically in shaded, closed-canopy habitats with abundant leaf litter and fallen logs. The species is highly localized, with records concentrated in protected areas and adjacent foothill forests.
Altitude Range
600–1600 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Cordillera Azul antbird was described only recently and is named in honor of biologist E. O. Wilson. It is confined to Peru’s Cordillera Azul, where it inhabits humid submontane forest understory. Like many antbirds, it often forages low and may attend army-ant swarms opportunistically. Its restricted range makes it sensitive to habitat changes despite much of its habitat lying within a national park.
Temperament
skulking and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats through the understory
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs that maintain small territories year-round. It forages quietly near the ground, seldom joining mixed-species flocks for long. Nesting is presumed to be low above the ground with both parents involved in care, as in related antbirds.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A short series of clear, slightly rising whistles followed by a dry trill or descending notes. Calls include sharp chips and soft contact notes that carry in dense vegetation.
Plumage
Understory antbird with a compact build, subtly scalloped or dusky underparts and contrasting warmer rufous tones on wings and flanks. Upperparts appear dark slaty to brownish with a plain finish and minimal barring. Feathers look soft and matte, aiding camouflage in low-light forest. Sexes are similar overall, with females typically duller and browner.
Diet
Feeds primarily on arthropods such as insects and spiders, gleaned from leaves, stems, and the leaf litter. It makes short sallies to pick prey from low vegetation and fallen logs. The species may attend army-ant swarms opportunistically to seize flushed invertebrates, though it is not thought to be an obligate follower.
Preferred Environment
Forages in dense, shaded understory from ground level to about 2 m, favoring vine tangles, bamboo patches, and edges of small forest gaps. It uses fallen branches, root buttresses, and thickets for cover while moving methodically through its territory.
