This was a species I was searching for last week during my trip to Panama. These are birds that follow army ant swarms and then nab the insects that the ants scare up (corrected from Juan's comments below). There are several species that follow these swarms and do the same thing. I left in a rush to get out in the rainforest in the final hours of my first day there and unfortunately left my flash and BB in my suitcase. I also shot this looking down at the bird, so the DOF is not perfect, but I liked it anyway. I am especially happy the sharpness with the high ISO/ low shutter settings.
Canon 1D Mk3
Canon 600mm w/ 1.4x TC
ISO 2000 (yes, it was needed)
1/15 @ f/6.3
Av Mode, eval meter 0 comp
Hi Bryan. Despite the angle looking downwards, this is not too bad. Most of the antbird shots I see are very dark. The eye seems amazingly sharp for the SS. Shame about the DOF, and I would perhaps try to clear away the green blotch in the upper right.
On a different but related note, could you give some tips on shooting in the rainforest in panama. I am there in march. Will not be lugging a big lens around just a 300 f4 +1.4TC on my 7D.
If you do not want to clutter this thread with a reply, then feel free to PM me.
I agree with Ben about the sharp eye. This is one of those elusive species that move erratically in the dim forest floor, I can see that you where very lucky to have this one to pose for you in the open.
PD: they don't steal the insects that ants flush, that would be too complicated for the birds to try to get it since these ants are very aggressive, and believe me they are! what birds do is to take advantage of insects as these try to escape from the ants. This antbirds don't eat the ants, but a friend of mine was telling me that sometimes a male would take an ant, would clean its own feathers, (to take off mites!) with it and then would give it to a female during courtship.
Spotted Antbird
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