The dusky-tailed antbird is an insectivorous bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Region
Atlantic Forest
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid evergreen and semideciduous forests of southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina, especially within the Atlantic Forest biome. It favors dense understory with bamboo, vine tangles, and second growth, often near streams and forest edges. The species keeps to low to mid understory levels and avoids open habitats. It persists in fragmented woodlots if understory cover remains intact.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The dusky-tailed antbird is a shy understory specialist of the Atlantic Forest and nearby woodlands, usually found in pairs that keep close contact with soft calls. Males and females look strikingly different, with males darker and females rich rufous-brown. It often forages low in dense thickets, flicking its tail as it gleans insects from leaves and vines. Although an antbird, it is not an obligate ant follower and more often searches foliage and bamboo for prey.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found in territorial pairs that keep to dense cover and move methodically through the understory. Nests are placed low, and both sexes participate in nesting duties. Pairs maintain year-round territories and communicate with soft contact notes and duets.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a quick, dry series of sharp notes that may accelerate slightly and carry through dense vegetation. Calls include chips and rattles used to maintain contact between paired birds. Vocalizations are often given from concealed perches.
Plumage
Sexually dimorphic antbird of the understory; males are dark with contrasting pale spotting/edging on wings and a dusky tail, females are warm rufous-brown with plainer underparts and the same darker tail. Both sexes show fine barring or spotting on wings and a subtly contrasting tail tip.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, caterpillars, and other soft-bodied insects. It gleans prey from leaves, stems, and bamboo culms, and occasionally makes short sallies to snatch flushed insects. It may opportunistically attend small ant swarms but is not an obligate ant follower.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense understory of humid forest, especially in bamboo patches, vine tangles, and along shaded stream banks. Often forages within 0.5–3 m of the ground and avoids open, exposed perches.
