In the shadowy understory of Panama’s foothill forests, a nearly invisible bird moves through a tangle of vines and mossy branches. This is the realm of the Spiny-faced Antshrike (Xenornis setifrons)—a species so seldom seen that even seasoned birders consider it a rare prize.

Endemic to eastern Panama and parts of adjacent Colombia, this elusive antbird survives in small, scattered populations. In Panama, it inhabits humid forests on the Caribbean slope, with records from Cerro Azul, Guna Yala, and other remote sites where dense, mature vegetation remains.

Its name comes from the bristle-like feathers on its face, which lend it a spiny appearance. Dressed in earthy tones and measuring just over 14 centimeters, the Spiny-faced Antshrike is built for stealth. It spends most of its time close to the forest floor, picking through foliage for insects and other arthropods. Sometimes it joins mixed-species flocks—but more often it travels in pairs or alone, weaving silently through the undergrowth.

Much of this species’ life remains a mystery. Its vocal repertoire has been described as a rapid series of chak notes—usually three, but sometimes up to five—yet few recordings exist, and detailed studies are limited. Its breeding behavior has also yet to be described in detail. What is clear, however, is that continued forest protection is essential. As deforestation threatens lowland and foothill habitats in eastern Panama, safeguarding these forests is critical to the survival of one of the country’s most secretive birds.

Source:

Zimmer, K. J., & Isler, M. L. (2020). Spiny-faced Antshrike (Xenornis setifrons), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, & E. de Juana, Eds.). Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.spfant1.01

#spinyfacedantshrike