Chestnut-belted Gnateater Conopophaga aurita Scientific name definitions

The Chestnut-belted Gnateater occupies the understory of rainforest in northwestern and central Amazonia from eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and southern Colombia, east to central Brazil and the Guianas. It is characterized by a chestnut band across the breast, a black throat and mask, and a bright-white tuft of feathers behind the eye. This feather tuft can sometimes be held flat, appearing as a narrow line; however, it can also flare dramatically when the bird is excited. The plumage differs between the sexes, with females lacking the black mask and throat. In Ecuador and in northeastern Peru, the range of two lowland Amazonian gnateaters appears to be delineated by the Napo River, with the Chestnut-belted Gnateater restricted to the east and north banks, and the Ash-throated Gnateater (Conopophaga peruviana) found on the west and south banks. There is, however, some evidence to suggest that the Chestnut-belted Gnateater may occur, at least in extreme eastern Ecuador, south of the Napo River. These two species do overlap in Peru south of the Amazon. The Chestnut-belted Gnateater forages for insects, near, but not on, the ground. It is usually encountered in isolated pairs throughout the forest, where it is highly territorial. The nest and eggs of this species have been described, but its breeding ecology, behavior, and diet are poorly known.