Family Typical Antbirds (Thamnophilidae)

Vulnerable

Black-tailed Antbird (Myrmoborus melanurus)

figure, drawing, illustration of Black-tailed Antbird (Myrmoborus melanurus)

Taxonomy

French: Alapi à queue noire German: Schwarzkopf-Ameisenschnäpper Spanish: Hormiguero colinegro
Taxonomy:

Hypocnemis melanura

P. L. Sclater and Salvin

, 1866,

Cashiboya, in Loreto, and upper Río Ucayali, Peru

.

Monotypic.

Distribution:

NE & EC Peru (Loreto, Ucayali) and adjacent Brazil (right bank of R Javari, extreme W Amazonas).

Descriptive notes

12 cm. Male has black head, remaining plumage very dark grey, some individuals with white interscapular patch; wing-coverts blackish, thinly edged white at tips, underwing-... read more

Voice

Male loudsong a moderately long series (e.g. 18 notes, 2·7 seconds) of clear notes,... read more

Habitat

Understorey of seasonally flooded evergreen forest and other water-related habitats, at 100–... read more

Food and feeding

Little known. Presumably feeds on various insects and spiders, as congeners. Forages close to ground, hopping on vines and partially... read more

Breeding

Nest-building observed in Loreto (lower R Yarapa) in Jul (details previously unpublished); in seasonally flooded habitat, presumably nests... read more

Movements

Presumed resident.

Status and conservation

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near-threatened. Restricted-range species: present in Upper Amazon-Napo Lowlands EBA. Occurs in a relatively small range along R... read more

Recommended citation

Zimmer, K. & Isler, M.L. (2020). Black-tailed Antbird (Myrmoborus melanurus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/56805 on 26 February 2020).