Antthrushes | Formicariidae

Mierlijsters | Gallitos hormigueros

The guide covers four species of a single genus, Formicarius, spread through humid lowland and foothill forest from southern Mexico to Panama; the Mayan Antthrush is the most northerly. They are ground birds that look little like thrushes, despite the name: the body is round, the legs are fairly long and strong, and the short tail is held cocked while the bird walks with measured steps across the forest floor, which gives it something of a small rail. The plumage is dark brown and rufous, often with a black face or head, and in many species a pale ring surrounds the eye. They search for insects, spiders and other invertebrates in the leaf litter by flicking leaves aside, and sometimes join swarms of army ants. They are shy and far more often heard than seen: the song is a clear, whistled series of notes, fast and falling in some species and drawn out in others, and they respond well to an imitated whistle. The nest is placed in a hollow in a stump or tree, often close to the ground, and usually holds two white eggs.