Early morning in December 2001, as the mist still clung to the coastal thickets of Cananeia, São Paulo, I caught a glimpse of movement—a flash of rust, black, and slate. Raising my binoculars, I focused in and confirmed what I’d hoped for: Squamate Antbird (Myrmoderus squamosus). It’s not a species one stumbles upon casually, especially not here in the dense undergrowth of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest fringe.
The Squamate Antbird, named for the scaly appearance of its plumage, is a member of the Thamnophilidae family. Endemic to southeastern Brazil, its range is highly localized, favoring humid, lowland forests and dense understory habitats. The individual observed today was moving deliberately along the lower strata of mature secondary forest growth, about have a meter from the ground, in an area bordering mangrove influence.
The Squamate Antbird has long been considered cryptic, both in plumage and behavior. Its dark-scaled breast feathers and muted dorsal tones blend seamlessly into the shadowed foliage. During the encounter, the bird exhibited the characteristic skulking behavior associated with the genus—short, low flights between shrubs and persistent tail flicking. Vocalizations were infrequent but distinct: a low, harsh series of churrs, followed by brief pauses, often while the bird remained motionless in cover.
This sighting adds further confirmation of the species’ continued presence in the Cananeia region. Although the Squamate Antbird has been reported sporadically along the São Paulo coast, its precise range remains poorly defined due to habitat fragmentation and limited field observations. The present species forms a superspecies with another Brazilian endemic antbird, the White-bibbed Antbird (Myrmoderus loricatus). Their two ranges do not overlap, but show close approach, albeit probably also altitudinal segregation, in the extreme south of Rio de Janeiro, at the northernmost extremity of the range of Squamate Antbird. Like its closest relative, this species keeps at most low above the ground, being principally terrestrial, and pairs usually maintain close physical and vocal contact.
The antbird’s behavior also offers insights into its ecological niche. Unlike some of its relatives, it does not appear to regularly attend army ant swarms. Instead, it forages independently or in pairs, gleaning arthropods from leaves and bark, occasionally sallying to the ground. The individual seen was not solitary but did not show any signs of territorial display or vocal duets, suggesting it may not be in breeding condition.
Even given its status „Least Concern“, continued monitoring of the Squamate Antbird in transitional habitats like those of Cananeia is essential. Anyway, this is a restricted-range species, present in the Atlantic Forest Lowlands EBA. This species is fairly common throughout its range. The region inhabited includes several formally protected areas, e.g. Serra da Bocaína National Park, Serra do Mar State Park, Carlos Botelho State Park, and the restinga reserve at Itapoa, as well as some privately protected properties. Encounters like this underscore both the bird’s elusive charm and the need for careful attention to its habitat range and behavioral ecology.
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