Typical Antbirds (Thamnophilidae)

Willis's Antbird (Cercomacra laeta) - HBW 8, p. 629

French: Grisin de Willis German: Amazonasameisenfänger Spanish: Hormiguero de Willis

Taxonomy: Cercomacra tyrannina laeta Todd, 1920, Benevides, Pará, Brazil.
Probably closest to C. tyrannina and until recently treated as conspecific. Together with C. nigrescens, C. parkeri and C. serva they are considered to form a species group, on basis of plumage and vocal characters, and pending completion of major genetic study. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • waimiri Bierregaard et al., 1997 - NC Amazonian Brazil (E Roraima, NE Amazonas, NW Pará) and extreme S Guyana.
  • laeta Todd, 1920 - SE Amazonian Brazil (E Pará, W Maranhão).
  • sabinoi Pinto, 1939 - coastal NE Brazil in Pernambuco and Alagoas.