Mato Grosso antbird

The Mato Grosso antbird is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.

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Distribution

Region

Pantanal and Chaco of Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay

Typical Environment

Most common along rivers and in gallery forests, swampy woodlands, and dense riparian thickets. It favors seasonally flooded habitats with tangled understory, often near oxbow lakes and backwater channels. The species keeps close to the ground to mid-understory, moving through vine tangles, thorn scrub, and secondary growth. It can also occur along forest edges and in shrub-dominated islands within large wetlands.

Altitude Range

0–500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size14–16 cm

Wing Span20–25 cm

Male Weight0.02 kg

Female Weight0.018 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

An understory specialist of riverine thickets and seasonally flooded woodlands, the Mato Grosso antbird often forages in dense cover near water. Pairs stay in contact with soft calls and frequently perform antiphonal duets. Though it may attend army-ant swarms opportunistically, it mainly gleans insects from foliage and stems. Males and females look strikingly different, aiding quick field identification.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and skulking

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically found in pairs that maintain small territories year-round. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low in dense vegetation; both sexes participate in incubation and chick-rearing. It often keeps to cover and may join mixed-species flocks along riparian corridors.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A series of clear, sharp whistles that may accelerate or slightly rise and fall in pitch. Pairs frequently duet, with male and female phrases interlocking in quick succession.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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