- Phaenostictus mcleannani
Identification
Upperparts brown to reddish-brown with black spots, rufous collar, and crown that varies from grayish, to buffy to brown depending on subspecies. Side of head dominated by large bluish facial skin. Underside black with wide rufous fringes producing a spotted appearance. Tail black and relatively long; bill black, legs pale.
Distribution
Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, to Panama in Central America and Pacific slope of Ecuador and Colombia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized by Clements1:
- P. m. saturatus:
- Tropical eastern Honduras to Costa Rica and extreme western Panama
- P. m. mcleannani:
- Central and eastern Panama to north-western Colombia
- P. m. pacificus:
- Extreme south-western Colombia (Nariño) to north-western Ecuador (Esmeraldas)
while Restall2 also gives range and description of chocoanus (included in mcleannani by Clements).
Habitat
Moist forests in lowland and foothills.
Behaviour
This species follows army ant swarms and is rarely seen away from these. It is not easily approached. Has a habit of jerking the tail up and slowly lowering it.
Diet
Diet includes insects and arthropods which are flushed by army ants in the neotropical forests.
Breeding
The male offers food to the female prior to mating.
Ground nester with the nest hidden at the base of a large tree. The clutch consists of 1-2 heavily speckled whitish eggs. It seems that the male and female incubate the eggs as both appear to have brood patches.
Vocalisation
Series of high penetrating whistles, first rising, then falling on the last few notes. Also gives buzzy calls.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156
- Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
- Ridgely & Gwynne 1989. Birds of Panama. Princeton Paperbacks. ISBN 0691025126
- ResearchGate
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Ocellated Antbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 10 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Ocellated_Antbird
