Chestnut-backed Antbird

Poliocrania exsul (Sclater, PL, 1859)

14–15 cmLength26 gWeight

The chestnut-backed antbird (Poliocrania exsul) is a passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds".

Busiest months: January–March · Most records: Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: January–March · Most records: Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador

Chestnut-backed Antbird has been recorded at 171 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 5 countries and regions.

Records by month Northern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

PN Carara-Entrada principal [senderos Quebrada Bonita y Universal]Costa Rica5,399 records
Estación Biológica La Selva-OTSCosta Rica3,180 records
Pipeline Road (Camino del Oleoducto)Panama2,375 records

More places

RN San Cipriano-EscalereteColombia1,700 records
Tranquilo Bay Eco-Adventure LodgePanama1,699 records
PN Manuel AntonioCosta Rica1,691 records
PN Carara – Sendero La MeandricaCosta Rica1,683 records
Pipeline Road – Parque Nacional SoberaníaPanama1,628 records
Tirimbina Rainforest CenterCosta Rica1,600 records
PN Corcovado – Sector SirenaCosta Rica1,405 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Costa Rica Panama Ecuador Colombia Nicaragua

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The chestnut-backed antbird (Poliocrania exsul) is a passerine bird in subfamily Thamnophilinae of family Thamnophilidae, the "typical antbirds". It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Chestnut-backed Antbird?

The Chestnut-backed Antbird is about 14–15 cm long and weighs around 26 g.

Where does the Chestnut-backed Antbird live?

Its breeding range: Middle America, South America: Nicaragua to western Ecuador. It is most often recorded in Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador.

When is the best time to see the Chestnut-backed Antbird?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in January, February and March (Northern Hemisphere).

Is the Chestnut-backed Antbird endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Chestnut-backed Antbird as Least Concern.

What does the Chestnut-backed Antbird eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Chestnut-backed Antbird in?

It belongs to the family Antbirds (Thamnophilidae), order Passerines (Passeriformes).

At a glance

Length: 14–15 cm
Weight: 26 g
Habitat: Forest
Diet: Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle: Perches in trees
Migration: Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation: Least Concern

More measurements

Wing: 66 mm
Tail: 47 mm
Bill: 21 mm
Tarsus: 28 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Middle America, South America: Nicaragua to western Ecuador

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order: Passerines Passeriformes
Family: Antbirds Thamnophilidae
Genus: Poliocrania

More from the family Antbirds

Rufous-rumped AntwrenEuchrepomis callinota

Chestnut-shouldered AntwrenEuchrepomis humeralis

Yellow-rumped AntwrenEuchrepomis sharpei

Ash-winged AntwrenEuchrepomis spodioptila

Wing-banded AntbirdMyrmornis torquata

Spot-winged AntshrikePygiptila stellaris

Russet AntshrikeThamnistes anabatinus

Rufescent AntshrikeThamnistes rufescens

Dot-winged AntwrenMicrorhopias quixensis

Black BushbirdNeoctantes niger

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Ben Tsai蔡維哲. ↗

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