Typical Antbirds (Thamnophilidae)

Black Antbird (Cercomacra serva) - HBW 8, p. 630

French: Grisin noir German: Südlicher Trauerameisenfänger Spanish: Hormiguero Negro

Taxonomy: Pyriglena serva P. L. Sclater, 1858, Río Napo, Ecuador.
Considered to form a species group with C. nigrescens, C. laeta, C. tyraninna and C. parkeri on basis of plumage and vocal characters, and pending completion of major genetic study. Birds from C Peru and W Brazil S to Bolivia described as race hypomelaena, but appear to represent S end of a cline of decreasing plumage darkness. Monotypic.

Distribution: E of Andes from S Colombia (Putumayo), Ecuador, Peru and SW Amazonian Brazil (E to lower R Juruá and upper R Madeira) S to NW Bolivia (Pando, La Paz).