The ocellated antbird is a species of antbird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Region
Central America to northwestern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from Honduras and Nicaragua through Costa Rica and Panama into western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. Prefers primary and mature secondary evergreen forests with dense understory and a shaded forest floor. Most frequently encountered in the interior of humid lowland and foothill forests, often near ravines or along streams where army ants roam. It is uncommon in heavily disturbed habitats and rarely ventures into open areas away from forest cover.
Altitude Range
0–1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
An obligate ant-follower, it forages by attending swarms of army ants and snatching prey the ants flush, not the ants themselves. It is one of the few antbirds known to practice cooperative breeding, with helpers assisting a breeding pair. The species shows striking bare blue facial skin and bold ocellated spotting on the back that gives it its name.
Illustration by Joseph Smit from 1869
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low forest-floor flights
Social Behavior
Often found in pairs or family groups tightly associated with army ant swarms. Territorial around swarms and may dominate other ant-following species at prime positions. Known for cooperative breeding, with helpers—often previous offspring—assisting with territory defense and feeding nestlings.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Delivers clear, ringing whistles that carry through the forest, often in a measured, slightly descending series. Calls include sharp notes and chatter given excitedly around active ant swarms.
Plumage
Upperparts brown to olive-brown with prominent buffy, black-edged ocelli on the back and scapulars; wings rich rufous; tail darker brown. Head and chest are gray to dusky with fine mottling; underparts grayish with subtle scaling. Bare cobalt-blue facial skin around the eye contrasts with the darker head. Sexes are similar, females slightly browner and less contrasting.
Diet
Feeds primarily on arthropods such as insects and spiders flushed by army ants. It stations near the front of swarms to seize prey fleeing ahead of the ants. Occasionally takes small invertebrates from leaf litter or low vegetation away from swarms, but relies heavily on swarm activity. Rarely, it may capture small vertebrates flushed by the ants.
Preferred Environment
Forages on or just above the forest floor in dense, shaded understory. Most often attends active Eciton army ant swarms in interior humid forest, especially along gullies and stream corridors.
