The Rio de Janeiro antbird is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is endemic to Brazil.
Region
Atlantic Forest (southeastern Brazil)
Typical Environment
Found in remnant tracts and edges of the Atlantic Forest within and near the state of Rio de Janeiro, extending into adjacent southeastern Brazilian states where suitable habitat persists. It favors dense understory of humid lowland and foothill forests, including second-growth, thickets, and bamboo tangles. The species is typically associated with shaded ravines, streamside vegetation, and vine-laden forest edges. It avoids open areas and highly degraded habitats, persisting best in protected or relatively undisturbed fragments.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This shy understory antbird is restricted to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and often travels in pairs that keep close contact with soft calls. Pairs commonly perform antiphonal duets, with the male and female alternating phrases. It seldom follows army ant swarms, instead gleaning insects from dense thickets. Ongoing habitat loss and fragmentation have caused declines, and it is assessed as Near Threatened globally.
Temperament
skulking and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered as pairs that maintain year-round territories in dense understory. Pairs communicate constantly and may join mixed-species flocks at times but stay low and hidden. Nesting is believed to involve a small cup placed low in vegetation, with both sexes participating in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, whistled notes that accelerate or rise slightly, often given in coordinated duets between the pair. Calls include dry chacks and soft contact notes from within cover.
Plumage
Sexually dimorphic. Males are mostly dark slate to blackish with fairly plain plumage and subtle pale edging on the wings; females are warm brown to rufous above with paler, buffy underparts and a more contrasting face. Both sexes show a slender, slightly decurved bill and a longish tail often flicked while foraging. Overall appearance is neat but subdued, adapted for camouflage in dim understory light.
Diet
Primarily small arthropods such as insects and spiders taken from leaves, twigs, and vine tangles. It gleans methodically in the understory, occasionally sallying short distances to snatch prey. It may opportunistically attend small ant swarms or follow mixed flocks but is not an obligate ant-follower.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in dense, shaded understory, particularly in viney thickets, bamboo patches, and near streams. Often forages 0.5–2 m above ground and along forest edges with heavy cover.
