antpitta

noun

ant·​pit·​ta ¦ant-¦pi-tə 

plural antpittas

: any of various small to medium-sized chiefly Central and South American forest birds (family Grallariidae) that have a very short tail and loud, low-pitched song and usually live on or near the ground

Note: Antpittas have been placed especially formerly in the family Formicariidae.

The "tailless," rarely viewed, robin-sized antpittas are best known by their haunting whistles.

—Frank B. Gill and Robert S. Ridgely, Bird Watcher's Digest, August 1993

Word History

Etymology

ant entry 1 + pitta

First Known Use

circa 1911, in the meaning defined above

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