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ANTTHRUSHES (FORMICARIIDAE; 3 SPECIES) Small neotropical family of
terrestrial antbirds. Ages differ slightly; juv. plumage soon replaced by adult-like plumage; sexes
similar. Heard much more often than seen. Walk like crakes on the floor of humid forest, tail
cocked, tossing leaves aside with their bill. Sing from ground while walking, also from low
perches. Flush strongly, usually accompanied by sharp call and wing whirr.
*HOFFMANN’S [BLACK-FACED] ANTTHRUSH Formicarius [analis] hoff
manni 18–19.5cm. Humid lowland and foothill forest; see family intro. Limited
overlap in foothills with other antthrushes, from which told by rusty neck sides,
grayish breast, voice. SOUNDS: Measured song easily imitated, a sharp mellow
whistle followed by (usually 1–2, rarely up to 10) often slightly lower whistles,
pee, piu piu; recalls song of Chestnut-backed Antbird but faster-paced, more
strident, notes not distinctly downslurred. Call a clipped, hollow p’rik much like
Rufous-breasted Antthrush, at times run into rapid clucking series. STATUS: Fairly
common on s. Pacific slope, locally to 1500m; on Caribbean slope to 500m in
north, to 1200m in south. (Honduras to nw. Venezuela).
*BLACK-HOODED [BLACK-HEADED] ANTTHRUSH Formicarius nigrica
pillus 17.5–18.5cm. Humid foothill forest; see family intro. Limited overlap
with other antthrushes (Hoffmann’s lower, Rufous-breasted higher), from which
told by blackish head and breast, voice. Juv. duller overall, head and breast
sootier. SOUNDS: Song easily imitated, a fairly rapid series of tooting, hollow to
nasal whistles, initially intensifying and then fading abruptly at the end, hui-
hui..., 2.5–6 secs at 5–6 notes/sec. STATUS: Fairly common to uncommon locally
on Caribbean slope, mainly 400–800m in Northern and Central Mts., 600–
1200m in Talamanca Mts. (Costa Rica to Panama.)
RUFOUS-BREASTED ANTTHRUSH Formicarius rufipectus 19–20cm. Humid
foothill forest; see family intro. Limited overlap with other antthrushes, from
which told by rusty crown, neck sides, and breast framing black face; also voice.
Juv. duller overall, with lower breast mostly grayish. SOUNDS: Song easily
imitated, a hollow, plaintive whistled whiu whiu, repeated after several secs;
notes on same pitch or 2nd slightly higher. Call a rolled p’rik, much like Hoff
mann’s Anthrush, at times run into short rapid series. STATUS: Uncommon on
Caribbean slope, mainly 800–1500m in Northern and Central Mts., 1200–
1800m in Talamanca Mts. (Costa Rica to Peru.)
GNATEATERS (CONOPOPHAGIDAE; 1 SPECIES) Small neotropical family,
occurring mainly in South America. Ages differ slightly; weak juv. plumage soon replaced by
adult-like plumage; sexes differ.
BLACK-CROWNED ANTPITTA Pittasoma michleri 18–19.5cm. Spectacular
but elusive and rarely seen, on and near floor of humid foothill forest, adjacent
taller second growth. Hops on ground with springy bounds, digging in leaf
litter and attending army ant swarms; sings from low perch in understory. No
similar species in Costa Rica: note long pale bill, boldly scalloped underparts,
rusty upperparts with spotted wingbars. Male has solid black hood, female has
rusty cheeks, variably mottled throat. Juv. plumage (held briefly, rarely seen)
duller, less strongly patterned overall. SOUNDS: Song a prolonged series of semi-
metallic plaintive whistles, often intensifying for 20–30 secs at up to 6–7
notes/sec before slowing into longer notes that may continue more or less steadily for another 1–2 mins
at 2–3 notes/sec, pui-pui-puipui...puii puii...; also simply steady-paced series at 2–3 notes/sec for a min
or longer, puii puii..., that might suggest a high-pitched pygmy owl or even a truck backing up. Call a
rapid, gruff clucking chatter, starting abruptly and slowing slightly at the end, 1.5–2 secs; suggests a
rapid, gruff Wood Thrush clucking. STATUS: Scarce to rare on Caribbean slope, mainly 300–1000m.
(Costa Rica to nw. Colombia.)
