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.
