En bref

• Scientific Name: Automolus leucophthalmus
• Spanish Name: Trepatroncos ojiblanco
• Family: Furnariidae
• Known Nicknames: White-eyed Automolus
• Average Length: 18–20 cm / 7–8 in
• Average Weight: 30–42 g / 1.1–1.5 oz
• Envergure : N/A
• Key Feature: Pale white iris contrasting with dark brown head
• Régime alimentaire principal : Insectivore
• Range: Eastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina
• Habitat: Lowland humid forest and secondary growth
• Structure sociale : Solitaires ou en couples
• Nesting/Breeding: Burrow in earthen banks or termite nests
• Statut de conservation : Préoccupation mineure (LC)
• Évolution démographique : En baisse

The White-eyed Foliage-gleaner (*Automolus leucophthalmus*) is a secretive, medium-sized bird of South America’s Atlantic Forest, renowned for its masterful camouflage and specialized foraging technique. With a rich brown back, a rufous tail, and a pale throat contrasting with its darker underparts, its most striking feature is the vivid, pale white eye that gives it its name and stands out sharply against its otherwise earthy plumage. Unlike many other birds, it uses its strong, slightly curved bill to pry apart dead leaf clusters and bromeliads, methodically gleaning insects and spiders from these hidden microhabitats. A unique behavioral trait is its tendency to remain perfectly still when disturbed, relying on its cryptic coloration to blend seamlessly into the forest understory rather than fleeing, making it a challenging yet rewarding sight for birdwatchers.

Faits amusants

Despite its vivid white eye, this bird is notoriously hard to spot because it forages in the dark understory, often hanging upside-down like a titmouse to pry off bark and dead leaves with its long, slightly curved bill. It has a peculiar habit of “foot-trembling,” where it rapidly vibrates one foot against a branch to startle hidden insects into movement. As a specialist in army ant swarms, it will follow columns of Eciton burchellii, but rather than eating the ants, it snatches the fleeing cockroaches, spiders, and katydids that try to escape the ant raid—a behavior called “ant-following” that it shares with only a few other foliage-gleaners.

Habitats et répartition

The White-eyed Foliage-gleaner inhabits humid lowland and foothill forests, primarily within the Amazon basin. It is strongly associated with terra firme forests—those not subject to seasonal flooding—as well as várzea floodplains and swampy forest edges, where it forages in dense understory tangles and vine thickets. Its geographical range extends across eastern Ecuador, Peru, northern Bolivia, and much of Amazonian Brazil, reaching into the Guianas and southern Venezuela, with isolated populations also occurring in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. It generally occurs from sea level up to around 1,300 meters in elevation.

Comportements & Reproduction

The White-eyed Foliage-gleaner is a socially monogamous species, typically observed in stable pairs that defend a territory year-round. Mating occurs during the austral spring and summer, with courtship involving soft vocal duets and mutual preening. The pair works cooperatively to excavate a nest cavity in a decaying tree trunk or termite mound, often reusing the same site across multiple seasons. Females lay a clutch of two to three white eggs, which both parents incubate for approximately 16–18 days. A notable reproductive strategy is their reliance on ephemeral, soft-wooded substrates for nesting, which reduces competition for cavities but requires frequent site renewal. Chicks are altricial and are fed by both adults on a diet of arthropods; fledging occurs after about 18–21 days, with juveniles remaining in the parental territory for several weeks post-fledging to learn foraging techniques.

Alimentation

The White-eyed Foliage-gleaner is an insectivorous bird, with its diet consisting almost entirely of small arthropods gleaned from the surfaces of leaves, branches, and bark in the understory and mid-story of humid forests. It primarily hunts for beetles, caterpillars, spiders, and ants, often working in pairs or small groups and sometimes joining mixed-species foraging flocks to increase efficiency. An interesting dietary fact is that it occasionally consumes small fruits and seeds, though these plant materials make up a very minor portion of its intake. Another notable aspect is its foraging technique: rather than probing deep into crevices like some woodcreepers, it uses quick, precise pecks to snatch prey from the upper and lower sides of foliage, often hanging upside down to access hidden insects. Additionally, it has been observed following army ant swarms to capture arthropods flushed by the ants, a behavior more common in antbirds but occasionally exploited by this species.

Couleurs

The White-eyed Foliage-gleaner is predominantly rich olive-brown above and warm cinnamon-brown below, with a notably pale, whitish throat and a distinctive white or pale yellow eye. Its underparts are faintly streaked with buff, and it has a rufous tail and wing patches. This plumage provides effective camouflage against bark and dead leaves in the understory, while the pale eye stands out as its most unique feature.

Distribution Map

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Détails de l'attraction

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Featured places

• Legado das Águas – Reserva Votorantim