White-plumed Antbird

It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru; also the Guianas: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests.

The White-plumed Antbird is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

White-plumed Antbirds nest in both wet and dry seasons, at all months of the year. The similar structure and site of the two nestings now recorded suggest that nests are normally of this type. Willis (MS) has seen males prospecting nest sites in leafy debris in the bases of similar spiny palms. In the field I enjoyed the companionship of a group of Dutch ornithologists, including Dr. A. L. Spaans (Research Institute for Nature Management, Arnhem, Holland). More

The White-plumed Antbird (Pithys albifrons) is a species of insectivorous bird in the Thamnophilidae family. It is marked by deep red-brownish plumage, black wings, and a black head with a bright-white feathered mask. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru; also the Guianas: Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. More

Photo of a white-plumed antbird, made by Brian O'Shea in the Ralleigh Falls nature reserve in 2002 in Suriname and one by Alexandre Renaudier in French Guiana near Sa More

The White-plumed Antbird is a lowland rainforest bird that sometimes forms large flocks. It can often be seen following ant swarms and clinging to vertical stems, before swooping on insects disturbed by the advancing ants. Nest: A cup nest inside a mass of dead leaves in a bush. Distribution: N. Amazon Basin in Brazil and other countries to the west and north. Reference: Greensmith, Alan., Harrison, Colin. More

White-plumed Antbird, Ecuador, Shiripuno Research Station 12/29/08 © Tim Mitzen Amazing antswarm action with Reddish-winged Bare-eyes, Hairy-crested Antbirds and others. More

White-plumed Antbirds were the most common attendants, but we also saw Hairy-crested Antbird, Bicolored Antbird, Sooty Antbird, and heard Reddish-winged Bare-eye. There isn’t any significant seasonally flooded várzea forest near the lodge, so some of the várzea specialists are rare or absent. The river is also so small that it doesn’t support river island specialists or the common river birds like terns and some of the herons. However the terra firme was so good that it made up for it. More