Cocoa woodcreeper, Uraba, Colombia

Usually feeds alone, but a fun fact is that it occasionally assembles in groups and follows army ants on their path of war, picking up victims as easy food. This behavior is similar to antbirds and antshrikes, who are named after the behavior. A few examples of antbirds:
https://www.jungledragon.com/wildlife/browse/animalia/chordata/aves/passeriformes/thamnophilidae

comments (6)

Christine Young

Lion

So interesting and an ingenious and easy way to get an ant buffet. Posted 7 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Yes, total opportunists! It should be said though that for antbirds specifically, the behavior and thus name is a bit overstated. Apparently only a minority of species in that group exercise this behavior, and only few as a dedicated strategy. Which makes sense, as army ants will not constantly engage. Although I am not sure, I'm thinking the naming originates from some antbirds being so impossible to find, that the only way to do so is to monitor army ants.
  
  My bird book for Colombia has a nice illustration for antbirds: a man sitting on a sofa in the forest smoking a pipe with sub title "you need patience to see antbirds". lol. Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    That makes sense about the name and sounds like a very humorous illustration, haha.
    
    I recently read that some antbirds, or maybe just one specific species(?) have become so specialized in feeding on ants that they are completely incompetent at feeding on anything else. They now rely on ant populations. Hopefully, nothing happens to disturb the habitat and populations of the ants. I wish I had saved the link where I read that, but I will try to find it. Posted 7 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Clarifying the part about war ants: the birds don't go after the ants, they go after the victims of the ant raids, which are typically much larger insects. Sorry wasn't sure whether you meant ants or ant victims when you said "ant buffet" :) Posted 7 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Huh, how did I miss that? I thought they ate the ants! So, they steal the spoils of war from the army ants? Or feast on the dead leftovers? So cool. Posted 7 years ago
      2. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Yes, they do! Makes sense when you think about it: the prey is larger and already dead or close to it. Posted 7 years ago

The Cocoa woodcreeper

The cocoa woodcreeper is a passerine bird in the woodcreeper subfamily of the ovenbird family. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the buff-throated woodcreeper .

Info 6 0

Similar species: Perching Birds

Species identified by Ferdy Christant