Dot-backed Antbird (Hylophylax punctulatus)

Identification & Behavior: ~11.5  cm (4.5 in). The male Dot-backed Antbird has a brownish crown and nape. The rest of the upperparts are black with white dots and cream wing bars. The throat is black bordered below by a white breast streaked with black. The flanks are rufous. The female is similar but has a white throat. Both sexes have a whitish mask through the eye. It forages at the edge of forest streams. It is similar to the Spot-backed Antbird but is distinguished by having a whitish mask through the eye (the entire head is gray in Spotted-backed Antbird).

Status: The Dot-backed Antbird is rare to uncommon and widespread in northeast Peru, largely in Loreto. It is also local in Southeast Peru. The Dot-backed Antbird also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguero de Dorso Punteado.

Sub-species: Dot-backed Antbird (Hylophylax punctulatus), (Des Murs), 1856.

Meaning of Name: Hylophylax: Gr. Hule= woodland, forest and phulax, phulakos= watcher, sentinel. punctulatus: L. punctum, pungere= spot, to puncture. Punctulatus= spotted, dotted.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae