Dot-backed Antbird Hylophylax punctulatus

Dot-backed Antbird Hylophylax punctulatus

Brazilian name: guarda-várzea

Male Dot-backed Antbird, Cristalino, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for larger image

Cristalino Lodge, Mato Grosso, Brazil
December 2006

The Dot-backed Antbird is distributed in the Amazon Basin but, as its Brazilian name implies, it is normally found in seasonally flooded forest (várzea) unlike its close relative the Spot-backed Antbird H. naevius which prefers terra firme forest and is more common and widespread.

It is very similar to the Spot-backed Antbird but key identification features are its two-tone (browny-grey and whitish) as opposed to grey face, its grey rather than pinkish legs, its black rather than brown tail and the smaller spots on the back which extend lower down.

The best identifier is its voice with the Dot-backed saying "Free Beer" compared to the Spot-backed's more monotonous double whistle. Hear the song on xeno-canto.

Some authorities regard Dot-backed Antbird as monotypic but, if it is divided into two sub-species, these photos are of H. p. subochraceus which is a lighter brown above with more ochraceous flanks than the nominate.

Back to Index

If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page.