Blackish antbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackish antbird |
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.JPG) |
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| male at Apiacás, Mato Grosso state, Brazil | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Cercomacroides
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| Species: |
nigrescens
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| Synonyms | |
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Cercomacra nigrescens |
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The blackish antbird (Cercomacroides nigrescens) is a small bird that lives in the forests of South America. It is a type of passerine bird, which means it's a perching bird. This bird is part of the Thamnophilidae family, often called "antbirds."
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About the Blackish Antbird
Blackish antbirds are known for their dark feathers. They are usually found in warm, wet places. These birds often follow swarms of army ants. They don't eat the ants themselves. Instead, they catch insects and other small creatures that are trying to escape the ants.
Where it Lives
You can find the blackish antbird in several countries in South America. These include Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, and Suriname.
It likes to live in different kinds of forests. These include moist lowland forests, which are warm and wet. It also lives in moist montane forests, which are found on mountains. Sometimes, it can even be found in areas where forests have been cut down.
Its Name and Family
The blackish antbird was first described in 1860. Two German bird experts, Jean Cabanis and Ferdinand Heine, gave it its first scientific name. The name nigrescens comes from a Latin word meaning "blackish," which describes its color.
For a long time, this bird was placed in a group called Cercomacra. But scientists later studied its DNA. In 2014, they found that the Cercomacra group was not quite right. So, they created a new group, or genus, called Cercomacroides. The blackish antbird and five other species were moved to this new group. This helps scientists understand how different birds are related.
Different Types of Blackish Antbirds
There are five slightly different types, or subspecies, of the blackish antbird. They live in different parts of its range:
- Cercomacroides nigrescens nigrescens (Cabanis & Heine, 1860) – Found in Suriname, French Guiana, and northeastern Brazil.
- Cercomacroides nigrescens aequatorialis (Zimmer, JT, 1931) – Lives in south-central Colombia, eastern Ecuador, and northeastern Peru.
- Cercomacroides nigrescens notata (Zimmer, JT, 1931) – Found in central Peru.
- Cercomacroides nigrescens approximans (Pelzeln, 1868) – Lives in central Brazil.
- Cercomacroides nigrescens ochrogyna Snethlage, E, 1928) – Found in east-central Brazil.
