The Yapacana antbird is a species of passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
Region
Guiana Shield and northern Amazon Basin
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily in white-sand forest (campinarana) and adjacent stunted woodland across southeastern Venezuela, adjoining Colombia (Guainía/Vaupés region), and northwestern Brazil (upper Rio Negro basin). Prefers low, open to semi-open understory with vine tangles and scattered shrubs. Often near blackwater rivers and on tepui foothill slopes where white-sand substrates occur. It avoids dense floodplain varzea and occupies mostly terra firme white‑sand mosaics.
Altitude Range
100–1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Named for Cerro Yapacana in southern Venezuela, this antbird is closely tied to Amazonian white‑sand forests (campinarana). It forages low in the understory, often in pairs, and only occasionally attends army ant swarms. The species is placed in the monotypic genus Aprositornis and is noted for soft, duet-like songs between mates.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low to the ground
Social Behavior
Typically encountered as pairs or family groups maintaining small territories in the understory. Nests are placed low in shrubs or vine tangles; both sexes participate in nesting duties. It joins mixed-species flocks infrequently and tends to skulk in dense cover while foraging.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of soft, clear whistles that rise slightly and may be given antiphonally by a pair. Calls include dry chips and short nasal notes, often delivered from concealed perches.
Plumage
Understory antbird with fairly plain plumage; male tends to be dark slaty-gray with a dusky face and contrasting rufous wing panel, female warmer brown with paler, buffy underparts. Both sexes show relatively uniform upperparts with subtle edging on wing coverts. Tail is medium-length and often held slightly cocked while foraging.
Diet
Feeds mainly on arthropods such as beetles, ants, spiders, and orthopterans taken from leaves, twigs, and the forest floor. It gleans methodically in the lower understory and occasionally sallies a short distance to snatch prey. It may attend army ant swarms opportunistically but is not an obligate ant follower.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the lower 0.5–2 m of white‑sand forest understory, vine tangles, and shrubby edges. Often works along trails, natural gaps, and around small openings where light penetrates.
