Habitat
Understorey of lowland "várzea" (seasonally flooded forest) and "igapó" (permanently flooded forest), mainly occurring on river islands in white water, favouring Cecropia forest and Heliconia thickets. From sea-level - c.125 m.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Status VU
Habitat destruction and degradation through accelerating deforestation as land is cleared for cattle ranching and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network, is the main threat.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
Song is a loud series of sharp whistles, descending in pitch.
Ash-breasted Antbird (Myrmoborus lugubris) [XC352102]
by GABRIEL LEITE from Novo Air\u00e3o, Amazonas, Brazil (song)
Ash-breasted Antbird (Myrmoborus lugubris) [XC275039]
by Robert S. Ridgely from Sucumb\u00edos: Island in R\u00edo Aguarico, Ecuador (song)
Subspecies
Similar to other members of genus in morphology, vocalizations and behaviour. Subspecies stictopterus and femininus, with geographical distributions interposed between nominate and berlepschi, are apparently also phenotypically intermediate between those. Their taxonomic status is in need of review.
The following 4 subspecies are recognised:
berlepschi (Hellmayr, 1910) - North-eastern Peru (Loreto) and extreme western Amazonian Brazil (R Solimíµes east to Tonantins).
stictopterus Todd, 1927 - Central Amazonian Brazil (lower R Negro and nearby R Solimíµes).
femininus (Hellmayr, 1910) - Lower R Madeira, in south-central Amazonian Brazil.
lugubris (Cabanis, 1847) - R Amazon, from R Madeira east to Baía do Guajará, occurring in central-eastern Amazonas and north-central Pará.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet