Snethlage's antpitta is a species of bird in the family Grallariidae. It is endemic to Brazil.
Region
Eastern Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland tropical rainforest of the Brazilian Amazon, especially in and around Pará, extending through humid terra firme and seasonally flooded várzea forests. It favors dense understory with plentiful leaf litter and tangled thickets. Birds are most often found along quiet forest trails, near streams, and around fallen logs where prey is abundant. It generally avoids open areas and heavily degraded forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named after the pioneering ornithologist Emilie Snethlage, this shy forest bird is notoriously hard to see, often detected only by its clear, ventriloquial whistles. It was long treated within the Spotted Antpitta complex but is now recognized as a distinct species endemic to Brazil. It keeps low to the ground, hopping through leaf litter and freezing when disturbed.
Temperament
solitary and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs, defending small territories on the forest floor. Nests are cup-shaped and placed low, with both parents likely sharing incubation and feeding duties. Courtship and territorial advertisement rely heavily on song rather than display.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives a series of clear, fluty whistles that can sound ventriloquial in dense forest, making the bird hard to locate. Phrases are often evenly spaced and carry far at dawn and dusk.