The black-headed antthrush (Formicarius nigricapillus) is a species of bird in the family Formicariidae. It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama.[2]
| Black-headed antthrush | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Formicariidae |
| Genus: | Formicarius |
| Species: | F. nigricapillus
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| Binomial name | |
| Formicarius nigricapillus Ridgway, 1893
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Taxonomy and systematics
editThe black-headed antthrush has two subspecies, the nominate F. n. nigricapillus (Ridgway, 1893) and F. n. destructus (Hartert, EJO, 1898).
Description
editThe black-headed antthrush is about 18 cm (7.1 in) long; four individuals weighed 58 to 68 g (2.0 to 2.4 oz). The sexes have the same plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark dusky brown to blackish crown. Their face and throat are black with a ring of bluish white bare skin around the eye. Their back, rump, and wings are dark chestnut-brown, their uppertail coverts dark rufescent brown, and their tail black. Their flight feathers have dusky inner edges and a wide cinnamon band at the base. Their upper breast is blackish gray, their belly gray, and their undertail coverts rufous. They have a brown iris, a black bill, and dusky brown legs and feet. Subspecies F. n. destructus has darker and less reddish-tinged upperparts than the nominate.[3][4][5][6][7][excessive citations]
Distribution and habitat
editThe black-headed antthrush has a disjunct distribution. The nominate subspecies is found on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica and the Caribbean and Pacific slopes of Panama to western Guna Yala (San Blas). Subspecies F. n. destructus is found from central Chocó Department in Colombia south on the Pacific slope into Ecuador as far as eastern Guayas and northwestern Azuay provinces. The species inhabits humid to wet primary forest and mature secondary forest. It favors ravines and other areas that have dense undergrowth. In elevation it occurs between 400 and 1,200 m (1,300 and 3,900 ft) in Costa Rica, between 400 to 1,500 m (1,300 to 4,900 ft) in Panama, from near sea level to 1,400 m (4,600 ft) in Colombia, and from near sea level to 900 m (3,000 ft) in Ecuador.[3][4][5][6][7][8][excessive citations]
Behavior
editMovement
editThe black-headed antthrush is a year-round resident throughout its range.[8]
Feeding
editThe black-headed antthrush feeds primarily on a variety of arthropods, mostly insects but including spiders, and also tiny reptiles and amphibians. It is almost entirely terrestrial. It walks slowly and deliberately with its tail cocked like a little rail. It probes crevices and tangles and flicks aside leaf litter to find prey. It sometimes follows army ant swarms to capture prey fleeing the ants.[3][5][7]
Breeding
editThe black-headed antthrush's breeding season varies geographically, from including April and May in Costa Rica and spanning at least December to March in Colombia. One nest was a shallow cup made of leaf petioles and dead leaves placed deep down in a hollow palm stump. The clutch size was two eggs. The incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known.[3]
Vocalization
editThe black-headed antthrush's song is "a trill of c. 10 notes per second at 1·5–2 kHz, first falling, then rising in pitch". Both sexes sing, commonly from the ground. Its call is "a short 'chweep' ".[3]
Status
editThe IUCN has assessed the black-headed antthrush as being of Least Concern. Its estimated population of at least 50,000 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is considered generally uncommon to locally fairly common, and specifically uncommon in Costa Rica and common in Colombia.[3][5][6] It occurs in several protected areas and is "able to survive in isolated and fairly small patches of forest".[3]
References
edit- ^ a b BirdLife International (2020). "Black-headed Antthrush Formicarius nigricapillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22703206A138234144. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22703206A138234144.en. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Antthrushes, antpittas, gnateaters, tapaculos, crescentchests". IOC World Bird List. v 14.2. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Krabbe, N. and T. S. Schulenberg (2020). Black-headed Antthrush (Formicarius nigricapillus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.blhant1.01 retrieved August 26, 2024
- ^ a b vanPerlo, Ber (2006). Birds of Mexico and Central America. Princeton Illustrated Checklists. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. pp. Plate 61, map 61.12. ISBN 0691120706.
- ^ a b c d Garrigues, Richard; Dean, Robert (2007). The Birds of Costa Rica. Ithaca: Zona Tropical/Comstock/Cornell University Press. pp. 186–187. ISBN 978-0-8014-7373-9.
- ^ a b c McMullan, Miles; Donegan, Thomas M.; Quevedo, Alonso (2010). Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Bogotá: Fundación ProAves. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-9827615-0-2.
- ^ a b c Ridgely, Robert S.; Greenfield, Paul J. (2001). The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide. Vol. II. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. p. 434. ISBN 978-0-8014-8721-7.
- ^ a b Check-list of North American Birds (7th ed.). Washington, D.C.: American Ornithologists' Union. 1998. p. 370.