Ant Thrushes: Formicariidae

Physical characteristics: The gray antbird is a small bird of about 6 inches (16 centimeters) with a rather long tail. It is dark gray with a white band at the tip of the tail.

Geographic range: Gray antbirds are found in the rainforests of northern South America, including Guyana, the southern part of Gray antbirds live in dense rainforests. They are most abundant in the Amazon River basin. (Illustration by Dan Erickson. Reproduced by permission.) Venezuela, parts of Colombia and Ecuador, eastern Peru and northern Bolivia. They are most abundant in the Amazon River basin of Brazil.

Habitat: Gray antbirds live in the forest canopy in dense rainforests and on heavily forested mountain slopes below an elevation of 2,300 feet (700 meters).

Diet: Gray antbirds eat insects and insect-like bugs.

Behavior and reproduction: Gray antbirds form pairs that stay together, although they sometimes hunt for food in a group with birds of other species. Little is known about their nesting habits.

Gray antbirds and people: Gray antbirds are of interest mainly to birdwatchers and ecotourists.

Conservation status: Gray antbirds are not threatened; they are abundant in many places. They are found across a wide area of northern South America. ∎