Order: PASSERIFORMES
Family: FORMICARIIDAE
The name of the genus comes from the Latin Formica (ant) and arius (dedicated to) and refers to the behavior of some species of the family of following legionary ants and feeding on the insects disturbed by them. Rufipectus refers to the rufous coloration of the chest. The Rufous-breasted Cock is a little known bird, it is difficult to see since it prefers dense and mountainous primary forests. It is found on both slopes of the Western Cordillera from the northern end of the Valley to the south and the northern end of the Central Cordillera.
Description
It measures 19 cm. and weighs 75 g. It is terrestrial, with a robust body, with an erect tail and a rufous chest. Adults show a black face and throat and the rest of the head dark brown. The back, rump and wings are dark brown, the upper and lower tail coverts brown and the tail blackish. The wing coverts are buffy and the chest is deep rufous. It has a dull cinnamon rufous abdomen and gray side and flanks. The rufous chest is brighter and more extensive in males. The bill is black, the orbital skin bluish white and the legs are gray.
Similar species
It is similar to the Black-headed Antthrushand and the Formicarius analis, except that these two do not have a crown or chestnut brown.
Regional Differences
In Colombia we find the carrikeri subspecies characterized by bright reddish coloration, especially on the sides of the neck and upper coverts of the tail. The nominal subspecies rufipectus (from Costa Rica to the Darien of Panama) may also be present.
Distribution
It is found, in Colombia on both slopes of the Western mountain range from the northern end of the department of Valle del Cauca to the south and also in the northern end of the central mountain range. Also from Costa Rica to eastern Peru.
habitat
They inhabit primary forests in mountainous sites, up to 2200m
Feeding
It has a foraging behavior similar to the Black-headed Cockerel and the Black-headed Cockerel, which it abruptly replaces in the highlands.
Behavior
It is a mainly terrestrial bird, like other species of the genus it walks delicately on the ground, pecking and removing leaves. It often follows marches of legionary ants in dense mountain forests. It is territorial throughout the year.
State of conservation
It is considered as a least concern
Vocalization/ Song
References
Hilty, S. L. and W. L. Brown. 2001. Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princetn. Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ
Remsen, J. V., Jr., C. D. Cadena, A. Jaramillo, M. Nores, J. F. Pacheco, J. Pérez-Emán, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, D. F. Stotz, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 9 February 2011. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithologists’ Union. http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.html
BirdLife International (2012) Species factsheet: Formicarius rufipectus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 06/06/2012.
