Bananal antbird (Cercomacra ferdinandi)

Description

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Bananal antbird fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Bananal antbird description

A medium-sized bird endemic to a small area of Brazil ⁽²⁾, the Bananal antbird (Cercomacra ferdinandi) is named after Bananal Island, situated in the Araguaia River ⁽⁴⁾.

The male Bananal antbird has black plumage, with white-edged shoulder feathers, wing coverts and flight feathers. The black, graduated tail also has a white tip. The female Bananal antbird has largely grey plumage, with fine, white streaking on the throat and breast ⁽³⁾.

The male Bananal antbird has a harsh, loud ‘cawh’ call, which is usually repeated in quick succession ^{(3) (4)}. The male and female may also perform a synchronised duet, in which the female responds in a slightly higher pitched version of the male’s song ⁽³⁾.

Size

Body-length: 16 cm ⁽²⁾

Weight

15 g ⁽³⁾

Bananal antbird biology

The diet of the Bananal antbird consists primarily of insects, including grasshoppers and crickets, butterfly and moth larvae, and spiders ⁽³⁾. Feeding in family groups, in pairs or individually ⁽²⁾, the Bananal antbird will forage amongst vine tangles and dense vegetation, typically between 3 and 15 metres above the ground. However, it also regularly descends to the ground, especially when in pursuit of prey ⁽³⁾.

Almost nothing is known about the breeding habits of the Bananal antbird, except that a juvenile has been recorded being fed by its parents in late August ⁽³⁾.

Bananal antbird range

The Bananal antbird is endemic to central Brazil. Its fairly small range encompasses parts of the Araguaia River, the Tocantins River, and the Manuel Alves Grande River ⁽²⁾.

Bananal antbird habitat

The Bananal antbird resides in thickets alongside rivers and streams, as well as forest undergrowth near water, such as seasonally flooded areas ⁽²⁾.

Bananal antbird status

The Bananal antbird is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List ⁽¹⁾.

Bananal antbird threats

As the Bananal antbird has a relatively small range, it is highly susceptible to changes to the rivers on which it lives. A series of large hydro-electrical plants are being built along the TocantinsRiver and Araguaia River. These developments have already resulted in a decline in numbers of the Bananal antbird ⁽²⁾.

Bananal antbird conservation

The majority of the range of the Bananal antbird falls within the boundaries of the Araguaia National Park ⁽²⁾. However, the level of protection currently offered by this park is not known ⁽²⁾.

Recommended conservation measures for the Bananal antbird include an extensive survey into the exact population numbers of this species and the range it occupies. Research should also be done into the natural history of this bird in order to be able to determine its ecological needs ⁽²⁾.

Legislation that limits development within the habitat of the Bananal antbird is also recommended, in addition to encouraging the government to revise the plans for the hydro-electrical plants which are having a devastating effect on populations of the Bananal antbird ⁽²⁾.

Find out more

Learn more about bird conservation:

• BirdLife International:
  http://www.birdlife.org/

Find out about conservation efforts in Brazil:

• WWF:
  http://www.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/brazil
• The Nature Conservancy:
  http://www.nature.org/wherewework/southamerica/brazil

Authentication

This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk

This species information was authored as part of the ARKive and Universities Scheme.

Glossary

Endemic

A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.

Flight feathers

The feathers at the end of the wing, involved in flight.

Larvae

Stage in an animal’s lifecycle after it hatches from the egg. Larvae are typically very different in appearance to adults; they are able to feed and move around but usually are unable to reproduce.

Wing coverts

Small feathers which cover the bases of other larger feathers, helping to smooth airflow over the wings.

References

1. IUCN Red List (November, 2010)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org/
2. BirdLife International (November, 2010)
   http://www.birdlife.org/
3. del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. and Sargatal, J. (2003) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 8: Broadbills to Tapaculos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
4. Ridgely, R.S. and Tudor, G. (1994) The Birds of South America, Volume 11: The Suboscine Passerines. The University of Texas Press, Austin.