Lunulated Antbird Oneillornis lunulatus Scientific name definitions

The Lunulated Antbird occupies a rather small range in westernmost Amazonia, north and west of the river’s headwaters, in eastern Ecuador to east-central Peru, and is found in the understory of humid evergreen forest, principally in seasonally flooded areas, unlike its presumed sister-species, the White-throated Antbird (Gymnopithys salvini). The latter was occasionally treated as a subspecies of the Lunulated Antbird in the past, but in addition to their different habitat preferences and clear differences in loudsongs, males of the present species are overall darker and lack any white tail barring, while females virtually replicate the male pattern, except that brown replaces the gray body color, and there is some pale spotting and dark scalloping over the wings, back, and underparts. Like the White-throated Antbird, this species appears to be an obligate ant-follower, and many aspects of its feeding behavior are very similar to those of the latter. In contrast, its breeding biology is virtually completely unknown, and the nest has never been described.

E Ecuador (Sucumbíos, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona-Santiago) and N & C Peru (W of R Napo and R Ucayali).

Loudsong a series (e.g. 12 notes, 3·3 seconds) in which unmusical “chip” notes gradually lengthen and flatten into long mellow whistles that finally fall in pitch. Calls include long and usually interrupted “chirr” and abrupt “chup”.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Rare to uncommon throughout most of its small range. Occurs in a number of privately protected areas centred on ecotourist lodges and camps in lowlands of E Ecuador, e.g. Sacha, La Selva, Cuyabeno, Yuturi and Kapawi Lodges, and Tiputini Biodiversity Station; also in the large Yasuní National Park. In Peru, presence confirmed in Cordillera Azul National Park and probably also occurs in Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve; at least formerly fairly common at Yarinacocha (Loreto), but this area is not protected. More accurate estimations of this species’ distributional limits and population centres are needed. Considered to be of high sensitivity to human disturbance. Although its habitat is at present relatively intact, much of E Ecuador has been opened up for oil exploration and drilling, and the road-building and subsequent human colonization and environmental degradation that inevitably follow could place this species at risk in the future. Its total population may be relatively small, and it is known from only a few formally protected areas.