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Formicarius (genus)
Encyclopedia
Formicarius is a genus of passerine
bird
s in the Formicariidae family
. These birds are all found in the tropical New World
, from southern Mexico
south to Central America
and northern South America
. All are named as antthrushes, and are insectivorous
forest birds. They are largely terrestrial, feeding mainly on the ground on ant
s and other insect
s.
The species, in taxonomic order, are
Passerine
A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species, it has roughly...
bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s in the Formicariidae family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
. These birds are all found in the tropical New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
, from southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
south to Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and northern South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. All are named as antthrushes, and are insectivorous
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
forest birds. They are largely terrestrial, feeding mainly on the ground on ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
s and other insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s.
The species, in taxonomic order, are
- Rufous-capped AntthrushRufous-capped AntthrushThe Rufous-capped Antthrush is a species of bird in the Formicariidae family.It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela....
, Formicarius colma - Black-headed AntthrushBlack-headed AntthrushThe Black-headed Antthrush is a species of bird in the Formicariidae family.It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Panama....
, Formicarius nigricapillus - Black-faced AntthrushBlack-faced AntthrushThe Black-faced Antthrush , is a passerine bird.-Distribution and habitat:It is a common and widespread forest bird in the tropical New World, from southern Mexico through Central America to the northern regions of South America...
, Formicarius analis - Rufous-fronted AntthrushRufous-fronted AntthrushThe Rufous-fronted Antthrush is a species of bird in the Formicariidae family. It is found very locally in humid forest in southeastern Peru, northwestern Bolivia , and far southwestern Brazil . It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:* BirdLife International 2004. . Downloaded on 25...
, Formicarius rufifrons - Rufous-breasted AntthrushRufous-breasted AntthrushThe Rufous-breasted Antthrush is a species of bird in the Formicariidae family.It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montanes....
, Formicarius rufipectus