Hairy-crested Antbird (Rhegmatorhina melanosticta)

Identification & Behavior: ~15 cm (6 in). The Hairy-crested Antbird is variable. Male birds along the foothill of the Andes (bruneiceps) are tawny brown. The female is similar by has black barring on the back. Both sexes have black sides of the head with a broad ring of bare skin around the eye. The forehead and crest are light orange. Birds further onto the eastern lowlands are similar but browner with a forehead and crest creamy gray. It forages in the understory of terra firme forest where it is often associated with army ants. It is superficially similar to the Black-spotted Bare-Eye but has rufous-brown underparts and an orange or creamy gray bushy crest.

Status: The Hairy-crested Antbird is uncommon and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 1350 m on the east slope of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguero de Cresta Canosa.

Sub-species: Hairy-crested Antbird (Rhegmatorhina melanosticta melanosticta), (P. L. Sclater and Salvin) 1880.  SC Colombia (base of Andes from Meta S to Putumayo), E Ecuador and NE Peru (N of R Amazon in vicinity of R Napo and N of R Marañón).
(Rhegmatorhina melanosticta brunneiceps), (Chapman), 1928.  C Peru S of R Marañón and W of R Ucayali (San Martín S to N Ayacucho).
(Rhegmatorhina melanosticta purusiana), (E. Snethlage), 1908.  E Peru (S of R Amazon, E of R Ucayali), SW Amazonian Brazil (E to R Madeira) and NW Bolivia (Pando, La Paz).

Meaning of Name: Rhegmatorhina: Gr. rhegma, rhegmatos= fissure, cleft and rhinos= nostril. melanosticta: Gr. melas, melanos= black and stiktos= spotted.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae