ANTBIRD

The 'antbirds' are a large family of smallish passerine bird species of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. They are closely related to the antthrushes and antpittas in the family Formicariidae, the tapaculos, and especially the gnateaters (Irestedt ''et al.'' 2002, Rice, 2005).
These are forest birds, but tend to feed on insects at or near the ground. A sizable minority of them specialize in following columns of army ants to eat the small invertebrates that leave hiding to flee the ants.
Many species lack bright colour; brown, black and white being the dominant tones in their appearance.
Some species of antbirds communicate warnings to each other by exposing white patches on their back feathers, "like a sort of Morse code"^[1].
They lay two or three eggs in a nest in a tree, both sexes incubating.

Contents

Systematics

Subfamily N.N.: Basal antbirds

Subfamily Thamnophilinae: antshrikes and relatives

Subfamily N.N.: Typical antwrens and relatives

Unassigned

References

Footnotes

External links

Systematics

There are some 200 species, variously called as antwrens, antvireos, antbirds and antshrikes. These terms refer to the relative sizes of the birds (increasing in the order given) rather than any particular morphological resemblance to the true wrens, vireos or shrikes. The genus ''Phlegopsis'' is the bare-eyes, ''Pyriglena'' the fire-eyes and ''Neoctantes'' and ''Clytoctantes'' are the bushbirds.
Although the taxonomical layout of the group is based on studies from the mid-19th century when less than half the present species were known to science, comparison of the myoglobin intron 2, GAPDH intron 11 and the mtDNA cytochrome ''b'' DNA sequences (Irestedt ''et al.'', 2004) has largely verified it. Two major clades - most antshrikes and other larger, strong-billed species as well as ''Herpsilochmus'' versus the classical antwrens and other more slender, longer-billed species - exist and the monophyly of most genera was confirmed.
The Thamnophilidae contain several large or very large genera, and a considerable number of small or monotypic ones. Several of these, which have always been difficult to assign, seem to form a third, hitherto unrecognized clade independently derived from ancestral antbirds. The results also confirmed suspicions of previous researchers that some species, most notably in ''Myrmotherula'' and ''Myrmeciza'', need to be assigned to different genera. Still, due to the difficulties of sampling from such a large number of often poorly known species, the assignment of some genera is still awaiting confirmation.

Subfamily N.N.: Basal antbirds

★ 'Genus ''Terenura'''

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★ Streak-capped Antwren, ''Terenura maculata''

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★ Orange-bellied Antwren, ''Terenura sicki''

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★ Rufous-rumped Antwren, ''Terenura callinota''

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★ Chestnut-shouldered Antwren, ''Terenura humeralis''

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★ Yellow-rumped Antwren, ''Terenura sharpei''

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★ Ash-winged Antwren, ''Terenura spodioptila''

★ 'Genus ''Myrmornis'''

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★ Wing-banded Antbird, ''Myrmornis torquata''

★ 'Genus ''Pygiptila'''

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★ Spot-winged Antshrike, ''Pygiptila stellaris''

★ 'Genus ''Thamnistes''' - Russet Antshrike

Subfamily Thamnophilinae: antshrikes and relatives

★ 'Genus ''Megastictus'''

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★ Pearly Antshrike, ''Megastictus margaritatus''

★ 'Genus ''Thamnomanes'''

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★ Saturnine Antshrike, ''Thamnomanes saturninus''

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★ Dusky-throated Antshrike, ''Thamnomanes ardesiacus''

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★ Cinereous Antshrike, ''Thamnomanes caesius''

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★ Bluish-slate Antshrike, ''Thamnomanes schistogynus''

★ 'Genus ''Xenornis'''Placement here needs confirmation.

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★ Spiny-faced Antshrike, ''Xenornis setifrons''

★ 'Genus ''Dichrozona''' - Banded Antbird or Banded Antwren

★ 'Genus ''Taraba''' - Great Antshrike

★ 'Genus ''Hypoedaleus''' - Spot-backed Antshrike

★ 'Genus ''Batara''' - Giant Antshrike

★ 'Genus ''Mackenziaena'''

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★ Tufted Antshrike, ''Mackenziaena severa''

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★ Large-tailed Antshrike, ''Mackenziaena leachii''

★ 'Genus ''Cymbilaimus''' (2 species)

★ 'Genus ''Frederickena''' (2 species)

★ 'Genus ''Dysithamnus''' - antvireos (8 species)

★ 'Genus ''Herpsilochmus''' - wren-like antshrikes (15 species)

★ 'Genus ''Sakesphorus'''

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★ Collared Antshrike, ''Sakesphorus bernardi''

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★ Black-crested Antshrike, ''Sakesphorus canadensis''

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★ Silvery-cheeked Antshrike, ''Sakesphorus cristatus''

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★ Black-backed Antshrike, ''Sakesphorus melanonotus''

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★ Band-tailed Antshrike, ''Sakesphorus melanothorax''

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★ Glossy Antshrike, ''Sakesphorus luctuosus''

★ 'Genus ''Thamnophilus''' (possibly polyphyletic)

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★ Barred Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus doliatus''

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★ Chapman's Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus zarumae''

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★ Bar-crested Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus multistriatus''

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★ Chestnut-backed Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus palliatus''

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★ Lined Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus tenuepunctatus''

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★ Black-hooded Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus bridgesi''

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★ Black Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus nigriceps''

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★ Cocha Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus praecox''

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★ Blackish-gray Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus nigrocinereus''

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★ Castelnau's Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus cryptoleucus''

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★ White-shouldered Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus aethiops''

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★ Uniform Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus unicolor''

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★ Upland Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus aroyae''

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★ Plain-winged Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus schistaceus''

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★ Mouse-colored Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus murinus''

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★ Western Slaty Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus atrinucha''

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★ Guianan Slaty Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus punctatus''

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★ Peruvian Slaty Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus leucogaster''

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★ Natterer's Slaty Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus stictocephalus''

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★ Bolivian Slaty Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus sticturus''

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★ Planalto Slaty Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus pelzelni''

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★ Sooretama Slaty Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus ambiguus''

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★ Acre Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus divisorus''

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★ Streak-backed Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus insignis''

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★ Amazonian Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus amazonicus''

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★ Variable Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus caerulescens''

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★ Rufous-winged Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus torquatus''

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★ Rufous-capped Antshrike, ''Thamnophilus ruficapillus''

Subfamily N.N.: Typical antwrens and relatives

'Tribe "Microrhopini"'

★ 'Genus ''Neoctantes'''

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★ Black Bushbird, ''Neoctantes niger''

★ 'Genus ''Clytoctantes''' - typical bushbirds (2 species)

★ 'Genus ''Myrmorchilus'''

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★ Stripe-backed Antbird, ''Myrmorchilus strigilatus''

★ 'Genus ''Microrhopias''' - Dot-winged Antwren
'Tribe Formicivorini'

★ 'Genus ''Myrmochanes'''

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★ Black-and-white Antbird, ''Myrmochanes hemileucus''

★ 'Genus ''Epinecrophylla''' (previously included in ''Myrmotherula'', as the Stipple-throated group)

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★ Brown-bellied Antwren, ''Epinecrophylla gutturalis''

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★ Checker-throated Antwren, ''Epinecrophylla fulviventris''

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★ White-eyed Antwren, ''Epinecrophylla leucophthalma''

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★ Foothill Antwren, ''Epinecrophylla spodionota''

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★ Stipple-throated Antwren, ''Epinecrophylla haematonota''

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★ Brown-backed Antwren, ''Epinecrophylla fjeldsaai''

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★ Ornate Antwren, ''Epinecrophylla ornata''

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★ Rufous-tailed Antwren, ''Epinecrophylla erythrura''

★ 'Genus ''Myrmotherula''' (possibly paraphyletic)

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★ Streaked group (closer to ''Myrmochanes''):

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★ Pygmy Antwren, ''Myrmotherula brachyura''

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★ Moustached Antwren, ''Myrmotherula ignota''

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★ Short-billed Antwren, ''Myrmotherula (ignota) obscura''

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★ Guianan Streaked-Antwren, ''Myrmotherula surinamensis''

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★ Amazonian Streaked-Antwren, ''Myrmotherula multostriata''

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★ Pacific Antwren, ''Myrmotherula pacifica''

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★ Cherrie's Antwren, ''Myrmotherula cherriei''

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★ Klages's Antwren, ''Myrmotherula klagesi''

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★ Stripe-chested Antwren, ''Myrmotherula longicauda''

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★ Sclater's Antwren, ''Myrmotherula sclateri''

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★ Yellow-throated Antwren, ''Myrmotherula ambigua''

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★ Grey group (may include ''Formicivora''):

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★ White-flanked Antwren, ''Myrmotherula axillaris''

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★ Slaty Antwren, ''Myrmotherula schisticolor''

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★ Rio Suno Antwren, ''Myrmotherula sunensis''

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★ Salvadori's Antwren, ''Myrmotherula minor''

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★ Ihering's Antwren, ''Myrmotherula iheringi''

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★ Rio de Janeiro Antwren, ''Myrmotherula fluminensis''

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★ Plain-winged Antwren, ''Myrmotherula behni''

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★ Ashy Antwren, ''Myrmotherula grisea''

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★ Unicolored Antwren, ''Myrmotherula unicolor''

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★ Alagoas Antwren, ''Myrmotherula snowi''

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★ Long-winged Antwren, ''Myrmotherula longipennis''

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★ Band-tailed Antwren, ''Myrmotherula urosticta''

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★ Gray Antwren, ''Myrmotherula menetriesii''

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★ Rufous-bellied Antwren, ''Myrmotherula guttata''

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★ Plain-throated Antwren, ''Myrmotherula hauxwelli''

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★ Leaden Antwren, ''Myrmotherula assimilis''

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★ unassigned (Relationships unknown):

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★ Star-throated Antwren, ''Myrmotherula gularis''

★ 'Genus ''Formicivora''' (8 species)

★ 'Genus ''Stymphalornis'''

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★ Parana Antwren, ''Stymphalornis acutirostris''
'Tribe Pithyini'

★ 'Genus ''Pithys'''

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★ White-plumed Antbird, ''Pithys albifrons''

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★ White-masked Antbird, ''Pithys castanea''

★ 'Genus ''Skutchia'''

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★ Pale-faced Antbird, ''Skutchia borbae''

★ 'Genus ''Phlegopsis'''

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★ Black-spotted Bare-eye, ''Phlegopsis nigromaculata''

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★ Reddish-winged Bare-eye, ''Phlegopsis erythroptera''

★ 'Genus ''Phaenostictus'''

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★ Ocellated Antbird, ''Phaenostictus mcleannani''

★ 'Genus ''Gymnopithys''' (4 species)

★ 'Genus ''Rhegmatorhina'''

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★ Hairy-crested Antbird, ''Rhegmatorhina melanosticta''

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★ Chestnut-crested Antbird, ''Rhegmatorhina cristata''

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★ White-breasted Antbird, ''Rhegmatorhina hoffmannsi''

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★ Harlequin Antbird, ''Rhegmatorhina berlepschi''

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★ Bare-eyed Antbird, ''Rhegmatorhina gymnops''

★ 'Genus ''Cercomacra''' (12 species)

★ 'Genus ''Hypocnemis''' - warbing-antbirds (2-7 species)

★ 'Genus ''Drymophila''' (8 species)
'Tribe Myrmecizini'

★ 'Genus ''Sclateria''' - Silvered Antbird

★ 'Genus ''Percnostola'''

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★ Black-headed Antbird, ''Percnostola rufifrons''

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★ White-lined Antbird, ''Percnostola lophotes''

★ 'Genus ''Schistocichla''' (sometimes placed in ''Percnostola'')

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★ Slate-colored Antbird, ''Schistocichla schistacea''

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★ Spot-winged Antbird, ''Schistocichla leucostigma''

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★ Humaita Antbird, ''Schistocichla (leucostigma) humaythae''

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★ Brownish-headed Antbird, ''Schistocichla (leucostigma) brunneiceps''

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★ Rufous-faced Antbird, ''Schistocichla (leucostigma) rufifascies''

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★ Roraiman Antbird, ''Schistocichla (leucostigma) saturata''

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★ Caura Antbird, ''Schistocichla caurensis''

★ 'Genus ''Myrmoborus'''

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★ White-browed Antbird, ''Myrmoborus leucophrys''

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★ Ash-breasted Antbird, ''Myrmoborus lugubris''

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★ Black-faced Antbird, ''Myrmoborus myotherinus''

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★ Black-tailed Antbird, ''Myrmoborus melanurus''

★ 'Genus ''Gymnocichla''' - Bare-crowned Antbird

★ 'Genus ''Rhopornis'''

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★ Slender Antbird, ''Rhopornis ardesiaca''

★ 'Genus ''Pyriglena'''

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★ White-backed Fire-eye, ''Pyriglena leuconota''

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★ White-shouldered Fire-eye, ''Pyriglena leucoptera''

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★ Fringe-backed Fire-eye, ''Pyriglena atra''

★ 'Genus ''Hypocnemoides''' (2 species)

★ 'Genus ''Hylophylax''' (4 species)

★ 'Genus ''Myrmeciza''' (paraphyletic)

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★ Chestnut-tailed group (Pithyini)

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★ Southern Chestnut-tailed Antbird, ''Myrmeciza hemimelaena''

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★ Northern Chestnut-tailed Antbird, ''Myrmeciza castanea''

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★ Large dark group (close to ''Pyriglena'')

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★ Plumbeous Antbird, ''Myrmeciza hyperythra''

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★ Goeldi's Antbird, ''Myrmeciza goeldii''

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★ White-shouldered Antbird, ''Myrmeciza melanoceps''

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★ Sooty Antbird, ''Myrmeciza fortis''

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★ Immaculate Antbird, ''Myrmeciza immaculata''

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★ Patterned breast group (close to ''Hypocnemoides'' and ''Hylophylax'')

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★ Ferruginous-backed Antbird, ''Myrmeciza ferruginea''

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★ Scalloped Antbird, ''Myrmeciza ruficauda''

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★ White-bibbed Antbird, ''Myrmeciza loricata''

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★ Squamate Antbird, ''Myrmeciza squamosa''

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★ Main group

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★ Gray-headed Antbird, ''Myrmeciza griseiceps''

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★ Dull-mantled Antbird, ''Myrmeciza laemosticta''

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★ Esmeraldas Antbird, ''Myrmeciza nigricauda''

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★ Stub-tailed Antbird, ''Myrmeciza berlepschi''

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★ unassigned

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★ Yapacana Antbird, ''Myrmeciza disjuncta''

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★ White-bellied Antbird, ''Myrmeciza longipes''

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★ Chestnut-backed Antbird, ''Myrmeciza exsul''

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★ Gray-bellied Antbird, ''Myrmeciza pelzelni''

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★ Black-throated Antbird, ''Myrmeciza atrothorax''

Unassigned

★ 'Genus ''Biatas''' - White-bearded Antshrike

References

★ 'Irestedt', Martin; Fjeldså, Jon; Johansson, Ulf S. & Ericson, Per G.P. (2002): Systematic relationships and biogeography of the tracheophone suboscines (Aves: Passeriformes). ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' '23'(3): 499–512. (HTML abstract)

★ 'Irestedt', Martin; Fjeldså, Jon; Nylander, Johan A. A. & Ericson, Per G. P. (2004): Phylogenetic relationships of typical antbirds (Thamnophilidae) and test of incongruence based on Bayes factors. ''BMC Evol. Biol.'' '4': 23. Supplementary information

★ 'Rice', Nathan H. (2005): Further Evidence for Paraphyly of the Formicariidae (Passeriformes). ''Condor'' '107'(4): 910-915. PDF fulltext

★ Isler, M., P. Isler, B. Whitney, and K. Zimmer (2007). ''Species limits in the "Schistocichla" complex of Percnostola Antbirds (Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae).'' Wilson Bull. 119(1): 53-70.

★ Isler, M., P. Isler, and B. Whitney (2007). ''Species limits in Antbirds (Thamnophilidae): The Warbling Antbird (Hypocnemis cantator) complex.'' Auk 124(1): 11-28.

★ Isler, M., D. Lacerda, P. Isler, S. Hackett, K. Rosenberg, and R. Brumfield (2006). ''Epinecrophylla, a new genus of antwrens (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae).'' Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 119(4): 522-527

Footnotes

1. 1000 facts on birds, Jinny Johnson, , , Barnes and Noble, 2002, But does not mention which species if any. See also nest territory defence behaviour of Plain Antvireo.

External links

★ Internet Bird Collection: Antbird videos

★ Xeno-Canto.org: Antbird sounds