The ochre-breasted antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.
Region
Central America and Northern Andes
Typical Environment
Occurs from Costa Rica and western Panama south through the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru into northern Bolivia. It inhabits humid montane and cloud forests with dense understory and abundant moss. The species favors shaded ravines, forest edges, and bamboo or vine tangles. It usually stays within a meter or two of the ground, moving quietly through leaf litter. Human-disturbed secondary forest with adequate cover can also be used, though primary forest is preferred.
Altitude Range
600–2400 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A tiny, secretive antpitta of dense montane forests, it often stays low in the understory and on the forest floor where it is more often heard than seen. Despite its name, it is not an obligate army-ant follower and typically gleans insects from leaf litter and low vegetation. Its clear, high-pitched whistles carry through cloud forests at dawn and dusk.
Temperament
solitary and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; low, brief flights
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs, maintaining territories in dense understory. Nests are usually cup-shaped structures placed low in mossy banks or tangles, with both parents likely participating in care. It spends much of its time hopping and pausing on or near the ground, using cover to remain concealed.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, thin, whistled note delivered singly or in short series, often repeated at intervals. Songs are most frequent at dawn and dusk and can be ventriloquial, making the bird difficult to locate.
Plumage
Compact, round-bodied antpitta with olive-brown upperparts and a warm ochre to buff breast blending into paler belly. The face is grayish with a neat, contrasting eye-ring, and the tail is very short. Feathers appear soft and plain, lacking bold streaking.
Diet
Feeds primarily on small arthropods, including beetles, ants, spiders, and other ground-dwelling insects. It gleans prey from leaf litter and low vegetation and may make short sallies to snatch moving invertebrates. Occasional small berries may be taken opportunistically but are not a major part of the diet.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the forest floor and in the lowest understory, especially along shaded trails, stream margins, and mossy ravines. Dense cover such as bamboo, vine tangles, and sapling thickets is favored for both feeding and concealment.
