Ochre-breasted antpitta

Grallaricula flavirostris

Photo by Scott Olmstead (Internet Bird Collection)

Common name:
ochre-breasted antpitta (en); tovaca-ocre (pt); grallaire ocrée (fr); tororoi piquigualdo (es); ockerbrust-ameisenpitta (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Passeriformes
Family Formicariidae


Range:
This species is found along the Pacific slopes of Central and South America, from Nicaragua down to Bolivia.


Size:
These birds are 10 cm long and weigh 16 g.


Habitat:
Ochre-breasted antpittas are found in tropical and sub-tropical moist forests, at altitudes of 500-2.750 m.


Diet:
They forage on the ground or in low vegetation, mostly hunting insects.


Breeding:
The ochre-breasted antpitta breeds in April-July. The cup-shaped nest is made of fresh green moss and lined with thin sticks, black rhizomorphs and more moss. It is placed in a fork in a small tree or sapling, 2-4 m above the ground. There the female lays 1-2 pale reddish-brown eggs with dark spots, which are incubated for 17-21 days. The chicks fledge 14-16 days after hatching.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and is described as fairly common. This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.