Ocellated Antbird
EN

Ocellated Antbird

Phaenostictus mcleannani

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocellated_antbird

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Ocellated Antbird faces severe population decline primarily due to rapid deforestation throughout its Central American range. Large-scale conversion of lowland rainforests for cattle ranching, agriculture, and palm oil plantations has eliminated vast areas of suitable habitat. The species' dependence on army ant swarms for foraging makes it particularly vulnerable to forest fragmentation, as smaller forest patches cannot sustain the complex ecological relationships required for its specialized feeding behavior.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Ocellated Antbird inhabits the understory of mature lowland rainforests from sea level to 1,200 meters elevation. It requires dense, humid primary forests with complex canopy structure that supports army ant colonies, particularly in areas with minimal human disturbance.

Other threatened species in Thamnophilidae

Stub-tailed AntbirdVU

Stub-tailed Antbird

Myrmeciza berlepschi

Unknown
Western AntvireoVU

Western Antvireo

Dysithamnus occidentalis

Unknown
Spiny-faced AntshrikeVU

Spiny-faced Antshrike

Xenornis setifrons

Unknown
White-streaked AntvireoVU

White-streaked Antvireo

Dysithamnus leucostictus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Ocellated Antbird classified as Endangered?
Ocellated Antbird is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Ocellated Antbird faces severe population decline primarily due to rapid deforestation throughout its Central American range. Large-scale conversion of lowland rainforests for cattle ranching, agriculture, and palm oil plantations has eliminated vast areas of suitable habitat. The species' dependence on army ant swarms for foraging makes it particularly vulnerable to forest fragmentation, as smaller forest patches cannot sustain the complex ecological relationships required for its specialized feeding behavior.
Where does Ocellated Antbird live?
Ocellated Antbird occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Ocellated Antbird?
The main threats to Ocellated Antbird are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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