Slate-colored Antbird

About the Slate-colored Antbird

The slate-colored antbird (Myrmelastes schistaceus) is a species of bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The slate-colored antbird has a complicated taxonomic history. It was described by the English zoologist Philip Sclater in 1858 and given the binomial name Hypnocmenis schistacea. Later authors placed it successively in genera Sclateria, Schistocichla, and Percnostola. Some time after its initial description it was assigned several subspecies, but a 1924 study determined that some of them were species in their own right and a 1931 study confirmed that schistacea is monotypic. A 2013 study finalized its move to genus Myrmelastes, and because that name is masculine, the change of its specific name to schistaceus.

The slate-colored antbird is 14.5 to 15.5 cm (5.7 to 6.1 in) long and weighs 19 to 28.5 g (0.67 to 1.0 oz). Males are mostly dark bluish gray or slate gray. Their wings and tail are blackish gray with small white spots at the tips of the wing coverts. Females have a dark chestnut crown with thin rufous streaks. Their back and wings... Wikipedia →