Formicivora

Formicivora
Southern white-fringed antwren (Formicivora grisea)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thamnophilidae
Genus: Formicivora
Swainson, 1824
Type species
Formicivora nigricollis
Swainson, 1825
Species

see text.

Formicivora is a genus of insectivorous birds in the antbird family, Thamnophilidae. These relatively small, long-tailed antbirds are strongly sexually dichromatic. They are found in semi-open habitats in woodland and shrub in South America. They have several rows of white spots on the wings. Males are usually darker below than they are above, and sometimes have a fringe of white on the side.

The genus Formicivora was introduced by the English naturalist William Swainson in 1824. The type species is the southern white-fringed antwren. The name of the genus Formicivora combines the Latin words formica for "ant" and -vorus "eating" from vorare "to devour".

The Sincorá antwren was first described in 2007. While initially placed in its own genus Stymphalornis, the marsh antwren belongs in Formicivora. In contrast, the black-hooded antwren is not closely related to other Formicivora and may be better placed in its own genus.

There are nine species:

ImageCommon NameScientific NameDistribution
Narrow-billed antwrenFormicivora iheringinorthern Atlantic Forest
Black-hooded antwrenFormicivora erythronotossouthern Atlantic Forest
Southern white-fringed antwrenFormicivora griseanorthern South America
Northern white-fringed antwrenFormicivora intermediaColombia and Venezuela
Serra antwrenFormicivora serranamid Atlantic Forest
Black-bellied antwrenFormicivora melanogasterBrazil and eastern Bolivia
Rusty-backed antwrenFormicivora rufaBrazil, eastern Bolivia and southern Amazonia
Sincorá antwrenFormicivora grantsauiSerra do Espinhaço
Marsh antwrenFormicivora acutirostrissouthern Atlantic Forest