The spotted antbird is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Region
Central America and northwestern South America
Typical Environment
Occurs from Honduras south through Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and into western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. It inhabits mature and secondary humid lowland and foothill forests, favoring dense, shaded understory. Common along ravines, near streams, and in thickets where leaf litter is deep. Frequently accompanies army ant swarms in interior forest but may also use edges and old second growth if cover is adequate.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A classic ant-following species, the spotted antbird often attends army ant swarms to snatch insects and other small creatures flushed from the leaf litter. Pairs maintain territories year‑round in the shaded understory of humid forests. Males and females can look subtly different, with males tending toward grayer heads and females showing warmer rufous tones. Its bold black spotting on the underparts is a distinctive field mark.
Female in Panama
Juvenile at Altos Del Maria, El Valle, Panama
Temperament
shy and skulking yet active in dense understory
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats in low, bounding flights between perches
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs that defend territories year-round. Regularly attends mixed-species flocks centered on army ant swarms, foraging near the ground. Nests are usually placed low in shrubs or saplings; both sexes participate in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, whistled series delivered from low perches, often rising or slightly descending in pitch. Calls include sharp chip and tsik notes given frequently near ant swarms or when agitated.
