F. a. zamorae Chapman, 1923 – east Ecuador, northeast Peru and west Brazil
F. a. crissalis (Cabanis, 1861) – east Venezuela, the Guianas and northeast Brazil
F. a. analis (
d'Orbigny &
Lafresnaye, 1837) – east, southeast Peru, north Bolivia and central Brazil
F. a. paraensis Novaes, 1957 – southeast Amazonian Brazil
The subspecies hoffmanni is sometimes recognised as a distinct species, the Panama antthrush, based primarily of its different song.[7][8] The
Mayan antthrush (Formicarius moniliger) was formerly considered
conspecific with the black-faced antthrush.[6][9]
Description
The black-faced antthrush is similar in general appearance to a
rail, with a dumpy body, horizontal carriage, stout bill and short-cocked tail. It walks rather than hops, with a jerky motion reminiscent of a rail. It is typically 18–19
cm (7.1–7.5
in) long, and weighs 59
g (2.1
oz). The upper parts are rufous-brown, and the underparts are paler brown, except for the black face and throat, and rufous under the tail and behind the eye. The sexes are alike in plumage.
The antthrush builds a leaf-lined
nest in a cavity in a hollow branch or stump where two white
eggs are laid. It is an
insectivore which feeds on
ants and other
insects. It is quite terrestrial, feeding mainly on the ground. It will follow columns of
army ants. The
call is a loud whistle followed by 2–10 descending whistles, WHU! wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu-wu.
^Ridgely, Robert S.; Tudor, Guy (2009). Birds of South America: Passerines. Helm Field Guides. London: Christopher Helm. p. 688.
ISBN978-1-408-11342-4.
Skutch, Alexander F. (1969).
"Black-faced antthrush"(PDF). Life Histories of Central American Birds III: Families Cotingidae, Pipridae, Formicariidae, Furnariidae, Dendrocolaptidae, and Picidae. Pacific Coast Avifauna, Number 35. Berkeley, California: Cooper Ornithological Society. pp. 275–289. Skutch describes the race Formicarius analis hoffmanni.