Dusky-tailed Antbird
NameDusky-tailed Antbird
Common NameDusky-tailed Antbird
Scientific NameCercomacra melanaria
FamilyThamnophilidae
Wingspan (cm)21
Length (cm)14.5
Weight (g)16
Plumage DetailsMales are mostly dark blackish-gray, often with a white wing-bar that can be reduced or absent, and a black tail. Females have olive-brown upperparts, rufous flanks, a whitish throat, and may also show a faint wing-bar.
Vocalization / CallIts vocalization is a distinctive series of high-pitched 'peep' or 'tew' notes that accelerate, often concluding with a trill.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in northern South America, specifically in southeastern Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and northern Brazil.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size, Sexual dimorphism in plumage (dark male, brownish female), Longish tail, White wing-bar (variable), Preference for dense forest undergrowth
Description
The Dusky-tailed Antbird is a small, shy passerine found in the dense undergrowth of humid lowland forests. Males are predominantly dark gray, while females exhibit brownish plumage with rufous flanks. They are typically observed foraging for insects close to the ground.
