Scale-backed Antbird (Willisornis poecilinotus)

Identification & Behavior: ~13 cm (5.1 in). The male Scale-backed Antbird is gray with a blackish back scaled with white. The throat is gray (griseventris) or black (gutturalis). It has spotted uppertail coverts and a white terminal band on the tail. The female (gutturalis) is rufous-brown with a black back scaled with white. The female (griseiventris) is brown above without scaling, has a whitish throat, and gray rest of the underparts. It forages in the understory of the forest. The plumage pattern of the back is similar to that of the smaller Plain-throated Antwren. Also, see a female White-throated Antbird and Lunulated Antbird.

Status: The Scale-backed Antbird is fairly common and widespread in Amazonia where it is known to range up to 900 m along the foothill of the Andes. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, and Bo.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguero de Dorso Escamoso.

Sub-species: Scale-backed Antbird (Willisornis poecilinotus lepidonotus), (P. L. Sclater and Salvin) 1880.  SE Colombia (E Cauca, Caquetá, Putumayo, Amazonas), E Ecuador and N & EC Peru (S, W of R Ucayali, to Cuzco).
(Willisornis poecilinotus griseiventris), (Pelzeln), 1868.  EC & SE Peru (Ucayali E of middle R Ucayali, Madre de Dios, E Puno), SW Amazonian Brazil (E from R Juruá to both banks of R Madeira and drainage of R Aripuanã, Rondônia, and W Mato Grosso W of R Teles Pires) and N Bolivia (Pando, La Paz, N Beni, NE Santa Cruz).
(Willisornis poecilinotus gutturalis), Todd, 1927.  NE Peru (Loreto S of R Amazon and E of lower R Ucayali) and adjacent W Brazil (E to lower R Juruá).

Meaning of Name: Willisornis: In honor of US ornithologist resident in Brazil and Gr. ornis, ornithos= bird. poecilinotus: Gr. Poikilos= spotted and notos, noton= backed, back.

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae