Formicarius Chamaeza Pittasoma Grallaria Hylopezus Myrmothera Grallaricula
The Formiciidae are a family of smallish passerinebirdspecies of subtropical and tropical Central and South America. They are between 10 and 15 cm in length, and are related to the antbirds, Thamnophilidae.
These are forest birds, but tend to feed on insects at or near the ground, since many are specialist ant eaters. Most are drab in appearance, with shades of brown, black and white being the dominant tones in their appearance.
They are conventionally divided into two groups. The antthrushes in genera Formicarius and Chamaeza are similar in appearance to the rails. They have sexes alike in plumage, and walk like starlings.
The antpittas in genera Pittasoma, Grallaria, Hylopezus, Myrmothera and Grallaricula are also sexually monomorphic; they resemble the true pittas; they hop like thrushes, and are much easier to hear than see.
They lay two or three eggs in a nest in a tree, both sexes incubating.
