Slate-colored Antbird (Myrmelastes schistacea)

Identification & Behavior: ~14.5 cm (5.7 in). The male Slate-colored Antbird is slaty-gray. The wing coverts are dusky tipped with small white dots that form wing bars.  The tail is blackish without markings. The female has brown upperparts with the wing covers tipped with rufous spots forming wing bars. The head and underparts are rufous-brown.  Both sexes have a gray iris. It forages in the understory of Terra Firme forest. It is very similar to the Spot-winged Antbird but has a difference iris color. The voice of these two antbirds is the most reliable way to tell them apart.

Status: The Slate-colored Antbird is uncommon in terra firme forest on the east sides of the Napo and Ucayali Rivers. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Hormiguero Pizarroso.

Sub-species: Slate-colored Antbird (Myrmelastes schistacea), (P. L. Sclater), 1858.

Meaning of Name: Myrmelastes: Gr. murmēx, murmēkos= ant; lastēs= robber.  schistacea: L. schistaceus= slate-colored, slate-gray.

Formerly known as Schistocichla schistacea (2018)

See more of the Family Thamnophilidae