Formicivora
Southern white-fringed antwren (Formicivora grisea)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thamnophilidae
Genus: Formicivora
Swainson, 1824
Type species
Formicivora nigricollis[1]
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.[2][3] The type species is the southern white-fringed antwren.[4] The name of the genus Formicivora combines the Latin words formica for "ant" and -vorus "eating" from vorare "to devour".[5]

The Sincorá antwren was first described in 2007.[6] While initially placed in its own genus Stymphalornis, the marsh antwren belongs in Formicivora.[7] In contrast, the black-hooded antwren is not closely related to other Formicivora and may be better placed in its own genus.[7]

There are nine species:[8]

References

  1. ^ "Thamnophilidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  2. ^ Swainson, William John (1824). "An inquiry into the natural affinities of the Laniadae, or shrikes; preceded by some observations on the present state of ornithology in this country". Zoological Journal. 1: 289–307 [301].
  3. ^ Swainson, William John (1825). "On two new genera of birds, Formicivora and Drymophila, with descriptions of several species". Zoological Journal. 2: 145–154 [145–149].
  4. ^ Peters, James Lee, ed. (1951). Check-list of Birds of the World. Vol. 7. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 206.
  5. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 163. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  6. ^ Gonzaga, L.P.; Carvalhaes, A.M.P.; Buzzetti, D.R.C. (2007). "A new species of Formicivora antwren from the Chapada Diamantina, eastern Brazil (Aves: Passeriformes: Thamnophilidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1473: 25–38. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1473.1.2.
  7. ^ a b Buzzetti, D.R.C.; Belmonte-Lopes, R.; Reinert, B.L.; Silveira, L.F.; Bornschein, M.R. (2013). "A new species of Formicivora Swainson, 1824 (Thamnophilidae) from the state of São Paulo, Brazil". Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia. 21 (4): 269–291.
  8. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2018). "Antbirds". World Bird List Version 8.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 4 February 2018.


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