Antthrushes

Antthrushes, part of the Formicariidae family, are small to medium-sized forest-dwelling birds native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America. They range in length from 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches), bearing a muted color palette of browns, blacks, and whites. Closely related to ovenbirds and tapaculos, antthrushes have a distinctive upright stance due to their long legs and reduced tails, adaptations that suit their predominantly ground-based insectivorous lifestyle. Both sexes share the incubation duties, laying two or three eggs in nests situated in trees. The family consists of 12 species split across two genera. Previous classifications were reconfigured based on molecular phylogenetics, with some species formerly placed here now reassigned to the gnateater and Grallariidae families. Antthrushes, while resembling small rails and walking like starlings, are not actually related to true thrushes.

Species Categories

African & New World Parrots Albatrosses Anhingas, Darters Antbirds Antpittas Antthrushes Austral Storm Petrels Barn Owls Black-capped Donacobius Caracaras, Falcons Cardinals & Allies Chachalacas, Curassows, Guans Chats, Old World Flycatchers Cormorants, Shags Cotingas Crescentchests Crows, Jays Cuckoos Dippers Ducks, Geese, Swans Finches, Euphonias Finfoots Flamingos Frigatebirds Gannets, Boobies Gnatcatchers Gnateaters Grebes Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Herons, Bitterns Hoatzin Hummingbirds Ibises, Spoonbills Jacamars Jacanas Kingfishers Kites, Hawks, Eagles Larks Limpkin Magellanic Plover Manakins Mitrospingid Tanagers Mockingbirds, Thrashers Motmots New World Barbets New World Quail New World Sparrows New World Vultures New World Warblers Nightjars Northern Storm Petrels Oilbird Old World Parrots Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches Oropendolas, Orioles, Blackbirds Ospreys Ovenbirds Owls Oystercatchers Painted-snipes Pelicans Penguins Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels Pheasants & Allies Pigeons, Doves Plovers Potoos Puffbirds Rails, Crakes & Coots Rheas Sandpipers, Snipes Sapayoa Screamers Seedsnipes Seriemas Sheathbills Skuas Starlings, Rhabdornis Stilts, Avocets Stone-curlews, Thick-knees Storks Sunbittern Swallows, Martins Swifts Tanagers & Allies Tapaculos Thrushes Thrush-tanager Tinamous Tityras, Becards, Sharpbill Toucan Barbets Toucans Trogons Tropicbirds Trumpeters Tyrant Flycatchers, Calyptura Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers Wagtails, Pipits Waxbills, Munias & Allies Waxwings Weavers, Widowbirds Woodpeckers Wrens

Birda Blog

A passionate photographer is outdoors, equipped with a top-notch camera for bird photography.

14 best cameras for bird photography

August 9, 2022

John White

A woman in a jacket birdwatching out in nature, looking at her phone and considering the best birding app.

11 of the best birdwatching apps in the UK

August 8, 2022

John White

A large flock of Red-necked Stints, a great bird to look for when learning how to start birdwatching.

How to start birdwatching – a helpful guide for beginners

January 18, 2022

John White

People looking at a sunset in a Top 10 Birdwatching Park in the US

The top 10 birdwatching parks in the USA

December 7, 2022

Sarah Cunningham

The Best US States For Birdwatching - map of USA with state names

The best US states for bird watching, a helpful illustrated guide

January 17, 2022

John White

Three people walking in nature in a highland, birdwatching and using one of the best free birdwatching apps

What are the best free birdwatching apps?

March 28, 2023

Will Hall

Children are outdoors, enthusiastically observing and admiring birds in their natural habitat.

12 of the best birdwatching apps in the USA

February 9, 2023

Sarah Cunningham

8x vs 10 x binoculars - person holding their pair in hand

Binoculars for birdwatching 8x vs 10x magnification

What Our Birders Say

SuperOliviaGirl

Really great app

It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.

Emma L

App got me interested in birding!

Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!

Alex J

Friendly and helps to identify birds

Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.

Trevarthen1

Birda fan

I really enjoy using Birda, all sightings are recorded and photos can be added. There are monthly challenges which help to get you out to record your sightings. The Birda community are great and are happy to help with unidentified bird sightings. Suitable for all ages and experience!

Chudbond

Love Birda

I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.

Talli A

My favourite app

As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁

Anonymous

The best bird logging app

Birda is honestly the best bird logging app I have seen. I love all the features it has from being able to do a session and log all the birds you see in one sitting, to being able to connect with other birders from all over the globe!

Unbridled Discoveries

Great app for bird lovers

I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!

BCHphotography_

Such a great app!

I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️

Jake W

Great app

I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!

As featured in