Spotted antbird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted antbird |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Hylophylax
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| Species: |
naevioides
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The spotted antbird (scientific name: Hylophylax naevioides) is a cool little bird. It belongs to a bird family called Thamnophilidae. You can find these birds in warm, wet forests. They live in parts of Central America, like Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. They also live in northwestern South America, in countries like Colombia and Ecuador.
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Spotted Antbird: A Forest Friend
What Does It Look Like?
The spotted antbird is a small bird. It is about 11 cm (4.3 in) long. It weighs around 16–19.5 g (0.56–0.69 oz).
Male spotted antbirds have special markings. They have a white chest with big black spots. This looks like a necklace! Their back is chestnut-colored, their head is grey, and their throat is black.
Female spotted antbirds look a bit like the males. Their colors are not as bright. But they also have big spots on their chest. They have two wide, light brown stripes on their wings.
Where Do They Live?
Spotted antbirds live in mature, humid forests. You can find them in lowlands and foothills. They live in areas up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft) high. These birds usually search for food alone or in pairs. They stay in the lower parts of the forest.
What Do Spotted Antbirds Eat?
Spotted antbirds are very clever hunters. They often follow swarms of army ants. As the ants move, they scare away other small animals. The antbirds then catch these animals as they try to escape.
They eat many different kinds of small creatures. Their diet includes spiders, scorpions, and cockroaches. They also eat crickets, centipedes, and moths. Sometimes, they even catch small lizards and frogs!
Life Cycle and Family
Spotted antbirds build nests that look like open cups. The female bird usually lays two eggs. These eggs are white with maroon spots. Both the mother and father bird take turns sitting on the eggs. This is called incubation. The baby birds stay in the nest for about 11 days after hatching.
