Schwartz's antthrush, also known as the scalloped antthrush, is a species of bird in the family Formicariidae. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Region
Northern Andes and adjacent Amazonian foothills
Typical Environment
Occurs in humid foothill and montane forests of northeastern Colombia and western to southern Venezuela, including the Serranía del Perijá and foothills of the Cordillera de Mérida, extending into adjacent lowland-foothill forests. It favors dense, mature evergreen forest with deep leaf litter and shaded understory. Birds keep close to the ground along slopes, ravines, and near buttressed tree bases. It may also occupy selectively logged forest where understory cover remains intact. Local presence is patchy, tied to intact forest tracts.
Altitude Range
200–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Schwartz's antthrush, often referred to as the scalloped or striated antthrush, is a secretive forest-floor bird of the antthrush family (Formicariidae). It forages by flicking leaf litter in dim understory and is more often heard than seen. Pairs maintain territories year-round and deliver clear, whistled songs that can be mistaken for other understory specialists.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically encountered singly or in pairs, maintaining discrete territories on the forest floor. Nests are built low or on the ground, with both members of a pair involved in territory defense. Breeding is thought to coincide with rainy periods when invertebrates are abundant.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of clear, ringing whistles delivered at measured intervals, often carrying far through dense forest. Pairs may engage in antiphonal duets, giving alternating notes that sound like one bird.
