<trp-post-container data-trp-post-id='363212'>Rufous-tailed Antbird

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Endémique
  • Scientific Name: Drymophila genei
  • Spanish Name: Hormiguero de Gounelle
  • Family: Thamnophilidae
  • Known Nicknames: Gene's Antbird, Choca-de-cauda-ruiva
  • Longueur moyenne : 13–14 cm / 5,1–5,5 pouces
  • Average Weight: 12–14 g / 0.42–0.49 oz
  • Envergure : N/A
  • Key Feature: Long, rufous-colored tail and heavily streaked black-and-white head and breast
  • Primary Diet: Insectivore (primarily insects and spiders)
  • Range: Southeastern Brazil (Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Espírito Santo)
  • Habitat: Humid montane forests, micro-associated with dense bamboo thickets (Chusquea spp.)
  • Social Structure: Solitary or in pairs, frequently joining mixed-species foraging flocks
  • Nesting/Breeding: Cup nest built in dense bamboo foliage or undergrowth
  • Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
  • Évolution démographique : En baisse

The Rufous-tailed Antbird (*Drymophila genei*) is a striking, elusive songbird endemic to the misty, high-altitude Atlantic Forests of southeastern Brazil. True to its name, this species is defined by its vibrant, rust-colored tail and rump, which contrast beautifully with the male’s bold black-and-white streaked upperparts and solid black throat, while the female sports a softer, warm-buff coloration. What truly sets this avian gem apart is its highly specialized lifestyle as a bamboo obligate, relying almost exclusively on dense stands of *Chusquea* bamboo for foraging and nesting. Within these tangled thickets, the Rufous-tailed Antbird exhibits an energetic, acrobatic foraging style, hopping through the foliage to snatch insects from the undersides of leaves, making its distinctive, buzzy calls a vital guide for birdwatchers hoping to spot this near-threatened beauty.

Faits amusants

Despite its name, this species rarely follows army ant swarms, choosing instead to live as an exclusive "bamboo snob" that relies almost entirely on dense bamboo thickets for survival. To navigate this tangled vegetation, it performs impressive acrobatic feats, often hanging completely upside down to snatch insects from the undersides of leaves. It also possesses a quirky communication style: to keep in touch with its mate through the impenetrable foliage, it constantly performs a rapid, shivering tail-wagging dance, vibrating its signature reddish tail up and down like a hyperactive metronome.

Habitats et répartition

This species is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, with a highly restricted geographical range confined to the mountainous regions of the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Espírito Santo. It is a high-altitude specialist, typically found at elevations ranging between 1,200 and 2,200 meters above sea level. Within these montane regions, its habitat is strictly associated with the dense understory of humid evergreen forests, particularly areas dominated by native bamboo thickets, such as those of the genus *Chusquea*. It relies almost exclusively on these bamboo stands and adjacent dense secondary growth for foraging, nesting, and shelter.

Comportements & Reproduction

This species is highly territorial and typically lives in monogamous pairs or small family groups that remain together year-round. Strongly associated with dense bamboo stands, they forage actively by hopping and clinging to stalks to glean insects and spiders. While they occasionally join mixed-species foraging flocks that pass through their territory, they maintain strict boundaries, defending their home range through coordinated vocal duets and physical displays. During the breeding season, which coincides with the regional rainy season, the pair cooperatively constructs a small, cup-shaped nest woven from plant fibers and hidden within dense bamboo foliage or low shrubs. The female typically lays a clutch of two eggs, and both parents share the duties of incubation and feeding the nestlings, a cooperative strategy crucial for raising young in their dense, predator-rich understory habitat.

Alimentation

The Rufous-tailed Antbird (Drymophila genei) is a specialized insectivore whose diet consists primarily of a wide variety of small arthropods, including insects, spiders, and their larvae. A fascinating aspect of its feeding ecology is its strict association with dense bamboo thickets, particularly of the genus Chusquea, where it conducts almost all of its foraging. To capture its prey, this highly agile bird employs acrobatic maneuvers, frequently clinging sideways to vertical stems or hanging completely upside down to glean insects from the undersides of leaves and dead foliage. While many other species in the antbird family are famous for following army ant swarms to capture fleeing insects, the Rufous-tailed Antbird rarely participates in this behavior; instead, it relies on its own active searching within the bamboo understory, often joining mixed-species foraging flocks to increase its hunting success.

Couleurs

The Rufous-tailed Antbird is characterized by a starkly streaked black-and-white head and breast (buff-toned in females) contrasting with a rich rufous-brown back, rump, and tail. It features white-spotted dark wings, a bold white eyebrow stripe, and a black eye-line, providing disruptive camouflage that blends seamlessly into the dappled light of its dense bamboo habitat.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.