UPPERCASE: current genusUppercase first letter: generic synonym● and ● See: generic homonymslowercase: species and subspecies●: early names, variants, misspellings‡: extinct†: type speciesGr.: ancient GreekL.: Latin<: derived fromsyn: synonym of/: separates historical and modern geographic namesex: based onTL: type localityOD: original diagnosis (genus) or original description (species)
The distinctiveness of Alta Floresta Antpitta has been recognised since at least since 1989, when Ted Parker first visited the Alta Floresta region (K. J. Zimmer, in Carneiro & Aleixo 2013). Nevertheless, no formal attempt was made to describe this population, largely because it was assumed that it represented Snethlage’s Antpitta. While investigating taxonomy of the Spotted Antpitta group, however, Carneiro (2009) also realized the distinctiveness of birds in the Rio Madeira–Xingu interfluvium. Following Carneiro et al.’s (1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
) thorough systematic revision, four main lineages of Spotted Antpitta were recovered, three of which corresponded to already named taxa (dilutus, macularius, and paraensis). The fourth became Alta Floresta Antpitta. Details of the natural history, breeding biology, vocal repertoire, and distribution of Alta Floresta Antpitta remain almost entirely unknown. Although it has not been evaluated from a conservation standpoint, its known range is not particularly small (being larger than that of Snethlage’s Antpitta) and it does not face any well-defined threat not shared by other Amazonian birds.
Field Identification
14cm. Long-legged and very short-tailed, with typical upright posture of Hylopezus. Both sexes have dark grey crowns and dull greenish-brown upperparts and wings, the latter with a prominent dark rectangle on leading edge near the top and two buffy wingbars broken into spots. The buffy-orange lores are separated from a similarly coloured and fairly prominent eye-ring by a narrow black crescent. The pale underparts, white centrally and buffy laterally, have distinctive black spotting, heaviest on the upper breast and becoming sparser and smaller lower down. Sexes similar.
Similar Species
Very like Snethlage's Antpitta (H. paraensis), but averages slightly larger in most measurements (except tarsus averaging slightly shorter), and can be distinguished by tone of upperparts, pattern of mantle, and other details of pattern and color of flanks, breast and wing. Nevertheless, the present species is probably not safely distinguishable from Snethlage's Antpitta on external characters alone, and is best distinguished by range (no known overlap) and voice.
Plumages
Subadult
Very similar to adult but fringes of upperwing coverts retaining some rusty-rufous coloration (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
).
Adult
From Fjeldså (3
Fjeldså, J. (2019). Alta Floresta Antpitta (Hylopezus whittakeri). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
) and Greeney (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): Top of head dark gray with sparse, poorly defined darker shaft-streaks, sides of crown with more prominent blackish shaft-streaks sharply separating gray cap from conspicuous buffy-yellow lores and broad yellow-ochre eye-ring. These buffy facial markings are bordered by a continuous narrow blackish crescent across lores and continuing as a long black moustachial stripe that contrasts with the whitish throat and centre of chin. Ear-coverts speckled blackish, grayish and pale buff, less speckled and with mainly pale ochre-buff feathers on the lower part. Mantle to uppertail olive-brown, sometimes washed slightly grayish; feathers of upper mantle and upper scapulars with narrow bright yellow-ochre shaft-streaks. Upperwing-coverts olive-brown with diffuse cinnamon-buff tips, broader on outer and reduced on inner ones, alula bicoloured, dark brownish on inner webs, orangey-buff on outer webs, bend of wing buffy-orange. Primary-coverts dusky-brown contrasting with bright ochre or tawny patch at base of outer webs of primaries, otherwise primaries dark grayish on inner webs and olive-brown on outer webs, inner primaries and secondaries plainer olive-brown on outer webs, with minute orange-buff tips. Inner webs of tertials also plain olive-brown. Underwing-coverts tawny-buff to tawny-cinnamon. Underparts mostly creamy-white with buffy-cinnamon wash on sides and flanks, and blackish malar stripe. Feathers of breast fringed with black flecks, these markings at tips of feathers form dense rows of inverted V-shaped markings, becoming much smaller and more spaced on lower breast, sides of belly and flanks.
14.2mm, 13.0mm, 11.5mm (from nares; 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): 13.7mm (exposed culmen; 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean13.2mm, range 12.5–13.9mm (length; n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
mean 5.8mm, range 5.3–6.3mm (width; n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
mean 5.8mm, range 5.5–5.9mm (depth; n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Female
12.8mm, 13.0mm (from nares; 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 13.0mm, range 12.1–14.0mm (length; n = 3; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
mean 5.8mm, range 5.7–5.9mm (depth; n = 3; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
mean 5.9mm, range 5.7–6.1mm (width; n = 3; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Sex unknown
13.4mm, 11.8mm, 12.9mm (from nares; 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 13.4mm, range 12.7–14.0mm (length; n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
19.6mm, 18.0mm, 19.2mm (exposed culmen; 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
).
5.6mm, 5.7mm, 5.6mm (depth at nares; 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 6.2mm, range 5.6–6.7mm (depth; n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
5.0mm, 5.0mm, 4.8mm (width at nares; 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 5.9mm, range 5.1–7.7mm (width; n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
8.2mm, 7.4mm, 7.9mm (width base of mandible/gape; 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
).
Wing
Male
86mm (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 86.1mm, range 82.5–90.5mm (n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Female
Mean 85.2mm, range 83.9–86.9mm (n = 3; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Sex unknown
89mm, 84mm (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 86.1mm (83.1–90.1mm) (n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Tail
Male
Mean 40.1mm, range 37.4–42.7mm (n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Female
Mean 40.8mm, range 36.6–44.6mm (n = 3; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Sex unknown
35mm, 36mm (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): , mean 37.0mm, range 33.9–39.6mm (n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Tarsus
Male
43.6mm, 36.9mm, 34.4mm (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 35.0mm, range 32.4–36.4mm (n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Female
34.4mm, 36.2mm (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 34.4mm, range 33.8–34.7mm (n = 3; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Sex unknown
37.8mm, 38.0mm, 36.8mm (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
): mean 35.2mm, range 33.7–37.6mm (n = 10; 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Total Length
No data. Presumably similar to H. macularius.
Mass
Male
Mean 44.1g (range 40–47 g) (n ≤ 10, 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Female
42.4g (n = 1, 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Systematics History
Hylopezus whittakeriCarneiro et al., 2012 (1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Described as:Hylopezus whittakeriCarneiro et al., 2012, Auk, vol. 121, p. 348.
Holotype: MPEG 56099, adult male, Figueiredo in Belterra, FLONA do Tapajós, Sucupira base, km 117 of the BR 163 highway, 03°21’22”S, 54°56’57”W, collected 23 July 2002 by D. Davison, W. Figueiredo and L. W. Figueiredo. The species name honors Andrew Whittaker, for his numerous contributions to Amazonian ornithology.
Following a recent systematic revision based on morphometric, plumage, vocal, and molecular characters, the Spotted Antpitta (Hylopezus macularius) was found to consist of four diagnosable taxa (1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
). The vocally and genetically distinct Alta Floresta Antpitta and the very similar Snethlage's Antpitta Hylopezus paraensis, were elevated to species status.
Subspecies
Monotypic.
Nomenclature
Other scientific names applied to Hylopezus whittakeri, as herein defined:
Grallaria macularia paraensis (4
Snethlage, E. (1914). Catalogo das Aves Amazonicas. Boletim do Museu Goeldi 8:1–531.
, 5
Hellmayr, C. E. (1929). A contribution to the ornithology of northeastern Brazil. Field Museum of Natural History (Zoological Series) 12(18):235–501.
, 6
Zimmer, J. T. (1934). Studies of Peruvian birds. XII. Notes on Hylophylax, Myrmothera, and Grallaria. American Museum Novitates 703:1–21.
, 7
Pinto, O.M.O. (1938). Catálogo das aves do Brasil e lista dos exemplares que as representam no Museu Paulista, 1a. parte. Rev. Mus. Paulista 22: 1–556. In Portuguese.
, 8
Griscom, L., and J. C. Greenway Jr. (1941). Birds of lower Amazonia. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 88: 85–344.
). Note: Hellmayr (5
Hellmayr, C. E. (1929). A contribution to the ornithology of northeastern Brazil. Field Museum of Natural History (Zoological Series) 12(18):235–501.
) used this name in reference to either or both H. paraensis and H. whittakeri.
Hylopezus macularius (9
Zimmer, K. J., T. A. Parker, M. L. Isler, and P. R. Isler (1997). Survey of a southern Amazonian avifauna: the Alta Floresta region, Mato Grosso, Brazil. In Studies in Neotropical Ornithology Honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Editor), Ornithological Monographs 48. pp. 887–918.
, 10
Henriques, L. M. P., J. M. Wunderle, and M. R. Willig (2003). Birds of the Tapajós National Forest, Brazilian Amazon: a preliminary assessment. Ornitología Neotropical 14(3):314–338.
, 11
Lees, A. C., N. G. Moura, C. B. Andretti, B. J. W. Davis, E. V. Lopes, L. M. P. Henriques, A. Aleixo, J. Barlow, J. Ferreira, and T. A. Gardner (2013). One hundred and thirty-five years of avifaunal surveys around Santarém, central Brazilian Amazonia. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 21(1):16–57.
12
Henriques, L. M. P., J. M. Wunderle, Jr., D. C. Oren, and M. R. Willig (2008). Efeitos da exploração madeireira de baixo impacto sobre uma comunidade de aves de sub-bosque na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, Pará, Brasil. Acta Amazonica 38:267–289.
, 13
Laurance, S. G. W. (2004). Responses of understory rain forest birds to road edges in central Amazonia. Ecological Applications 14(5):1344–1357.
, 14
Lees, A. C., K. J. Zimmer, C. A. Marantz, A. Whittaker, B. J. W. Davis, and B. M. Whitney (2013). Alta Floresta revisited: an updated review of the avifauna of the most intensively surveyed locality in south-central Amazonia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 133(3):178–239.
)
Hylopezus macularius paraensis (15
Pinto, O. M. O. (1978). Novo Catálogo das Aves do Brasil. Primeira parte. Aves não Passeriformes e Passeriformes não Oscines, com exclusão da família Tyrannidae. Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, São Paulo, Brazil.
, 16
Clements, J. F. (2007). The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York, USA.
)
Hylopezusoreni (17
Carneiro, L. S. (2009). Variação morfológica, vocal e molecular em Hylopezus macularius (Temminck, 1830) (Aves, Grallariidae). M.Sc. thesis, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brasil.
)
Other popular names applied to Snethlage's Antpitta, as herein defined:
French Grallaire de Whittaker. German Alta-Floresta-Brillenameisenpitta Spanish Tororoí de Alta Floresta. Portuguese torom-de-Alta-Floresta
Distribution
Endemic to south-central Brazil (Amazonia), confined to the Rio Madeira–Rio Xingu interfluvium (1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
, 3
Fjeldså, J. (2019). Alta Floresta Antpitta (Hylopezus whittakeri). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
). At many of the following localities it was historically known as Spotted Antpitta. The single record of ‘Spotted Antpitta’ from west of the Rio Madeira and south of the Amazon, on the the upper Rio Urucu (18
Peres, C. A., and A. Whittaker (1991). Annotated checklist of the bird species of the upper Rio Urucu, Amazonas, Brazil. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 111(3):156–171.
, 19
Whittaker, A., A. Aleixo, and F. Poletta (2008). Corrections and additions to an annotated checklist of birds of the upper rio Urucu, Amazonas, Brazil. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 128(2):114–125.
) may or may not represent Alta Floresta Antpitta.
The Alta Floresta Antpitta has been reported from only four Brazilian states: Pará (6
Zimmer, J. T. (1934). Studies of Peruvian birds. XII. Notes on Hylophylax, Myrmothera, and Grallaria. American Museum Novitates 703:1–21.
, 8
Griscom, L., and J. C. Greenway Jr. (1941). Birds of lower Amazonia. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 88: 85–344.
, 20
Santos, M. P. D., A. Aleixo, F. M. d’Horta, and C. E. B. Portes (2011). Avifauna of the Juruti region, Pará, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia 19(2):134–153.
, 14
Lees, A. C., K. J. Zimmer, C. A. Marantz, A. Whittaker, B. J. W. Davis, and B. M. Whitney (2013). Alta Floresta revisited: an updated review of the avifauna of the most intensively surveyed locality in south-central Amazonia. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 133(3):178–239.
, 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
), Amazonas (21
Whittaker, A. (2009). Pousada Rio Roosevelt: a provisional avifaunal inventory in south-western Amazonian Brazil, with information on life history, new distributional data and comments on taxonomy. Cotinga 31:23–46.
, 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
), Rondônia (22
Stotz, D. F., S. M. Lanyon, T. S. Schulenberg, D. E. Willard, A. T. Peterson, and J. W. Fitzpatrick (1997). An avifaunal survey of two tropical forest localities on the middle Rio Jiparaná, Rondônia, Brazil. In Studies in Neotropical Ornithology Honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Editor), Ornithological Monographs 48. pp. 763–781.
, 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
, 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
), and Mato Grosso (9
Zimmer, K. J., T. A. Parker, M. L. Isler, and P. R. Isler (1997). Survey of a southern Amazonian avifauna: the Alta Floresta region, Mato Grosso, Brazil. In Studies in Neotropical Ornithology Honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Editor), Ornithological Monographs 48. pp. 887–918.
, 23
Lees, A. C., B. J. W. Davis, A. V. G. Oliveira, and C. A. Peres (2008). Avifauna of a structurally heterogeneous forest landscape in the Serra dos Caiabis, Mato Grosso, Brazil: a preliminary assessment. Cotinga 29:149–159.
, 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
).
Habitat
Inhabits humid lowland forest, apparently most frequently in swampy or flooded areas in upland terrafirme forest (22
Stotz, D. F., S. M. Lanyon, T. S. Schulenberg, D. E. Willard, A. T. Peterson, and J. W. Fitzpatrick (1997). An avifaunal survey of two tropical forest localities on the middle Rio Jiparaná, Rondônia, Brazil. In Studies in Neotropical Ornithology Honoring Ted Parker (J. V. Remsen, Editor), Ornithological Monographs 48. pp. 763–781.
), often around gaps such as treefalls (24
Wunderle, J. M., Jr., L. M. P. Henriques, and M. R. Willig (2006). Shortterm responses of birds to forest gaps and understory: An assessment of reduced-impact logging in a lowland Amazon forest. Biotropica 38:235–255.
). Also found in drier transitional forest at the southern limit of its range in northern Mato Grosso (23
Lees, A. C., B. J. W. Davis, A. V. G. Oliveira, and C. A. Peres (2008). Avifauna of a structurally heterogeneous forest landscape in the Serra dos Caiabis, Mato Grosso, Brazil: a preliminary assessment. Cotinga 29:149–159.
). Though not well studied, appears to show an affinity for treefall gaps and riparian areas, and rarely ventures into more disturbed areas (1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
).
Movement
No information.
Migration Overview
Presumed sedentary.
Diet and Foraging
Nothing documented, but presumably similar to congeners, i.e. invertebrates and small vertebrates (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
).
Sounds and Vocal Behavior
Loudsong differs consistently from those of all other forms hitherto included in H. macularius in number of notes, song pace, structure of notes, and syntax; additionally differs from dilutus in length of second, third and fourth intervals (1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
). Vocal differences considered to be a particularly important pre-mating isolation mechanism in such species inhabiting dense forest undergrowth, and thus relying particularly heavily on vocal communication (3
Fjeldså, J. (2019). Alta Floresta Antpitta (Hylopezus whittakeri). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
).
Vocalizations
Loudsong composed of 5 (rarely 4 or 6) whistled notes with identical shapes, in which the second and third notes are separated by an unusually long interval (1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
, 3
Fjeldså, J. (2019). Alta Floresta Antpitta (Hylopezus whittakeri). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana), Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
).
Behavior
Of the (relatively) many published observations on the behavior of Spotted Antpitta, none has been specifically in reference to Alta Floresta Antpitta. Its natural history, however, can safely be assumed to be at least similar to that of other Hylopezus. Like related species (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
), Alta Floresta Antpitta sings from the ground or from low perches, inflating its throat and exposing the pink skin below the feathers (ML 38268141; ML 167962651).
Breeding
Nest and egg undescribed, along with all other aspects of the reproductive biology.
Phenology
Essentially unknown. Two subadults, one collected 26 July 1907 at Calama and one collected 24 January 1920 at Vila Braga, were examined by Greeney (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
). Given the dearth of information on the timing and duration of post-fledging plumage development in the genus Hylopezus, on their own these two records are difficult to interpret.
Demography and Populations
There have been no studies on population biology, life span, age at first breeding, dispersal, or any other aspect of the demography of Alta Floresta Antpitta.
Conservation Status
The conservation status of Alta Floresta Antpitta has not been evaluated. Like other members of the Spotted Antpitta group, this species appears quite sensitive to habitat loss, fragmentation and perturbation (25
Lees, A. C., and C. A. Peres (2006). Rapid avifaunal collapse along the Amazonian deforestation frontier. Biological Conservation 133:198–211.
), given that it was detected in only 25% of 31 variably sized (1.2–100,000 ha) forest patches in northern Mato Grosso, where the smallest occupied patch was 19ha (26
Lees, A. C., and C. A. Peres (2010). Habitat and life history determinants of antbird local extinction in variable-sized Amazonian forest fragments. Biotropica 42(5):614–621.
; A. C. Lees in Carneiro 1
Carneiro, L. S., L. P. Gonzaga, P. S. Rêgo, I. Sampaio, H. Schneider, and A. Aleixo (2012). Systematic revision of the Spotted Antpitta (Grallariidae: Hylopezus macularius), with description of a cryptic new species from Brazilian Amazonia. The Auk 129(2):338–351.
). It is also thought to be fairly sensitive to edges created by roads (13
Laurance, S. G. W. (2004). Responses of understory rain forest birds to road edges in central Amazonia. Ecological Applications 14(5):1344–1357.
). The species’ range is not particularly small and, thankfully, it occurs in several protected areas.
Protected Populations
Floresta Nacional Tapajós (10
Henriques, L. M. P., J. M. Wunderle, and M. R. Willig (2003). Birds of the Tapajós National Forest, Brazilian Amazon: a preliminary assessment. Ornitología Neotropical 14(3):314–338.
, 12
Henriques, L. M. P., J. M. Wunderle, Jr., D. C. Oren, and M. R. Willig (2008). Efeitos da exploração madeireira de baixo impacto sobre uma comunidade de aves de sub-bosque na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós, Pará, Brasil. Acta Amazonica 38:267–289.
, 24
Wunderle, J. M., Jr., L. M. P. Henriques, and M. R. Willig (2006). Shortterm responses of birds to forest gaps and understory: An assessment of reduced-impact logging in a lowland Amazon forest. Biotropica 38:235–255.
)
Parque Nacional Campos Amazônicos (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
)
Floresta Estadual Rio Preto (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
)
Pousada Ecológica Rancho Grande (R. C. Hoyer in Greeney 2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
)
Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Rio Cristalino (2
Greeney, H. F. (2018). Antpittas and Gnateaters. Christopher Helm, London, UK.
).
Priorities for Future Research
All aspects of the natural history, ecology, and distribution of the Alta Floresta Antpitta are in need of further investigation.
Greeney, H. F. and J. Fjeldså (2020). Alta Floresta Antpitta (Hylopezus whittakeri), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.alfant1.01
Partnerships
A global alliance of nature organizations working to document the natural history of all bird species at an unprecedented scale.
