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DUSKY ANTBIRD  Cercomacroides tyrannina 13–14cm. Notably skulking,

heard far more often than seen. Humid forest edge, dense second growth,

gallery forest understory and tangles. Usually in pairs, moving low and furtively

in thickets; does not join mixed flocks. Distinctive, if plain: note narrow whitish

wingbars of male, blank face and rusty underparts of female; male has concealed

white back patch flared in display. SOUNDS: Song a rapid series of (usually 9–18)

bright piping whistles, accelerating and then fading abruptly, pyi-pyi..., 2–2.5

secs; at times pairs duet, female giving higher, slightly rising song. Calls include

a harsh rasping brreeea (cf. White-collared Manakin) and hard churring kehrrr.

STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon on both slopes, to 1400m on Pacific slope, 1200m on Caribbean

slope; uncommon and more local in drier nw. lowlands. (Mexico to S America.)

‘PROFESSIONAL’ ANTBIRDS (3 species). Boldly patterned antbirds that habitually attend army

ant swarms and are infrequently seen away from them. Often perch low on slender vertical saplings and

twigs, whence they drop on or dash after prey flushed by the ants. Can be quite confiding and

unconcerned by a quiet human observer.

BICOLORED ANTBIRD  Gymnopithys bicolor 14–15cm. Striking medium-

size antbird of humid forest understory, ranging into adjacent second growth;

usually at ant swarms. See group intro. No similar species in Costa Rica: note

pale blue facial skin offset by dark cheeks, clean white underparts. Juv. plumage

(held briefly) duller above with rusty wingbars, sooty-brown underparts, dull

facial skin. SOUNDS: Song a slightly overslurred series of (usually 7–14) slightly

breathy whistled notes, starting as longer, upslurred whistles and accelerating

then fading into lower, sometimes huskier notes, whieeh whieh whieh-whi-whi-

ih-ih-ih-ieh, 2–2.5 secs; also single rising whistled notes and attenuated songs at

ant swarms. Call a burry snarling whéeeir, often downslurred. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, to

1700m on Pacific slope, 1500m on Caribbean slope. (Honduras to w. Ecuador.)

OCELLATED ANTBIRD  Phaenostictus mcleannani 20–21cm. Spectacular

large antbird of humid forest understory, sometimes ranging into adjacent

second growth; usually at ant swarms. See group intro. No similar species in

Costa Rica: note blue facial skin offset by black throat, rusty collar and

underparts, bold black scallops (‘ocellations’) on upperparts. Juv. plumage

(held briefly) duller overall with weaker pattern above, darker underparts.

SOUNDS: Song an ascending, slightly accelerating series of slurred piping whistles

run into a quicker roll or trill and usually ending with a few slower, downslurred

notes, 3.5–5.5 secs; may suggest Bicolored Antbird but higher and faster, more

prolonged and varied. Also single piping whistles and attenuated songs at ant swarms. Call a burry,

downslurred, semi-metallic srrrieu, much higher than Bicolored Antbird, not snarling. STATUS: Uncommon

on Caribbean slope, to 1200m; spills over locally to humid n. Pacific foothills. (Honduras to nw. Ecuador.)

SPOTTED ANTBIRD  Hylophylax naevioides 11–12cm. Attractive small

antbird of humid forest understory, ranging into adjacent second growth; often

at ant swarms. See group intro. No similar species in Costa Rica: note short tail,

bold cinnamon wingbars, breast band of coarse dark spots; male has concealed

white back patch flared in display. Juv. plumage (held briefly) resembles female

but head grayer, underparts mostly brownish. SOUNDS: Song a pulsating or

ratcheting series of (usually 6–10) paired wheezy whistles, accelerating then

fading and overslurred or descending overall, whiéz’i whiéz’i...; 3–4.5 secs. Call

a burry trilled or rattled tssirrr, shorter and less whiny than more strongly

downslurred call of Ocellated Antbird. STATUS: Fairly common on Caribbean slope, to 1000m; spills over

locally to humid n. Pacific foothills. (Honduras to w. Ecuador.)